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Man the Fort

What Does "Man the Fort" Mean?

homeidiomsMan the Fort
"Man the fort" is an English idiom. It means "to take charge of a situation, especially in the absence of others."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "man the fort" used in a sentence:
  • I'm going on a break – can you man the fort?
  • She had to leave for a meeting, so she asked her assistant to man the fort.
  • While the manager is on vacation, the assistant manager will man the fort.
meaning for man the fort

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Man the Fort" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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