Idiom
hold the fort
Meanings
To temporarily take care of a place or responsibility while someone else is away.
Definition
To hold the fort means to stay in charge and keep things running while someone is away.
To hold the fort means to take responsibility for a place, task, or group for a short time while the usual person is absent. It often suggests keeping everything stable and under control until they return. The situation is usually temporary and practical, like covering at work or watching a home.
Examples
- Can you hold the fort while I run to the pharmacy?
- I held the fort at the front desk until my manager got back.
- She asked me to hold the fort during her lunch break.
- We need someone to hold the fort while the team is in a meeting.
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share a quick update or confirm plans.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to tease someone or make fun of them in a not-too-serious way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.
More idiom (verb phrase)s
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share a quick update or confirm plans.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to tease someone or make fun of them in a not-too-serious way.
- drop the ball To drop the ball means to make a mistake or fail to do something important that you were responsibl…
- have a chinwag To have a chinwag means to have a friendly, informal chat with someone.
- face the music To accept and deal with the unpleasant consequences of your actions or a difficult situation.