cede the field
The phrase "cede the field" originates from military terminology but is now used more broadly to describe yielding control in various contexts.
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Definition
C1Military
(formal, historical)To withdraw from a battlefield, yielding control to the opponent.
Example
- The general decided to cede the field to avoid further casualties.
B2General
(idiomatic)To withdraw from a confrontation or competition, allowing others to take control.
Example
- After years of rivalry, the company finally ceded the field to its competitor.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "cede the field":
take the fieldgive groundfield upplaying fieldfield outgive placecenter fieldin the field