circle the wagons

The phrase 'circle the wagons' originates from a defensive tactic used by American pioneers and is now a figurative expression for uniting against threats.

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Definition

B2General

(idiomatic, informal)To unite as a group to defend against criticism or attack.

Example

  • The team circled the wagons to support their leader amidst the controversy.
  • When the company faced backlash, the employees circled the wagons to protect their brand.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "circle the wagons":

close rankscovered wagonbunker up