Dictionary

changing of the guard en · NOUN

Meanings

1. (qualifier:usually preceded by the) A ceremony during which the soldiers or other officials guarding a major government building or state residence, especially Buckingham Palace in England, are replaced by a new shift.
2. (broadly, figuratively) Any situation in which an individual or group charged with a task or responsibilities in an organization is replaced by another individual or group.
   • At long last, the referee's whistle was mercifully blown. It had been a sobering and underwhelming tournament, but one that must now fuel the future, with a changing of the guard needed ahead of next year's Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. 2022 November 29, Ian Mitchelmore, “Wales put out of World Cup misery by England as sobering tournament must signal changing of the guard”, in WalesOnline:
   • I've moved your mountains and marked your cards / But Eden is burning, either get ready for elimination / Or else your hearts must have the courage for the changing of the guards 1978, Bob Dylan, “Changing of the Guards”, in Street-Legal:
   • NBC has set a date for the changing of the guard at "The Tonight Show." After 17 years, Jay Leno will sign off as host of the venerated late-night talker. 2008 July 21, James Hibberd, “NBC finalizes its late shift”, in Hollywood Reporter, retrieved 25 Jul 2010:
   • The changing of the guard is set to ripple out beyond Amazon, which Mr. Bezos has personified for more than two decades. 2021 February 2, Karen Weise, “Jeff Bezos to Step Down as Amazon C.E.O.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
   • At the same stressful time, Detroit's automakers will be going through a major changing of the guard: all three companies are expected to get new chief executives in the space of two years. 1989 November 20, S. C. Gwynne, “Running Low On Gas”, in Time, archived from the original on 22 Oct 2010:
   • All the signs are right this time / You don't have to try so very hard / If you live in this world / You're feelin' the change of the guard 1972, Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, “Change of the Guard”, performed by Steely Dan:

Forms

Synonyms

guard mounting

Translations (2)

de Wachablösung (ceremony in which soldiers change shifts) · de Wachablöse (ceremony in which soldiers change shifts)