Dictionary

close ranks en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Meanings

1. To close the spacing between lines (ranks) of troops, as they are deployed across a battlefield, thereby decreasing the depth of the formation as it faces the enemy side.
2. (figuratively) To regroup forces, especially when this involves overlooking differences in order to face a challenge or adverse situation. Often implies making a show of unity, especially to the public.
3. (figuratively) To maintain silence and secrecy in the face of some external threat.
   • Gendrot describes a “clannish” system that ensures officers close ranks to protect their own, leading to a sense of impunity. 2020 September 3, Kim Willsher, “French reporter who joined police exposes racism and violence”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
   • It cannot be suggested in my view that the Metropolitan Police, even for a moment, attempted to close ranks to protect one of their own. Instead, remorselessly, efficiently and impartially the investigating officers followed all the available leads, resulting in an overwhelming case against the accused. 2023 March 6, Adrian Fulford, R v Wayne Couzens, sentencing remarks, Paragraph 27:
   • However, the charges that the police closed ranks to protect Godber find a parallel in Wong's hearings. 2007, Gina Marchetti, Andrew Lau and Alan Mak's Infernal Affairs:

Forms

Relateds

circle the wagons

Translations (19)

es cerrar filas (to regroup forces) · pl zwierać szeregi (to regroup forces) · ru смыка́ть ряды́ (to regroup forces) · ja 一致結束 (to regroup forces) · nb gjøre felles front (to regroup forces) · ru сомкну́ть ряды́ (to regroup forces) · ar رَصّ الصُّفُوف (to regroup forces) · it serrare le fila (to regroup forces) · fr serrer les rangs (to regroup forces) · pt cerrar fileiras (to regroup forces) · it serrare i ranghi (to regroup forces) · it fare quadrato (to regroup forces) · nl de rangen sluiten (to regroup forces) · fi tiivistää rivejä (to regroup forces) · pl zewrzeć szeregi (to regroup forces) · nb slutte rekkene (to regroup forces) · es hacer piña (to regroup forces) · hu zárja a sorait (to regroup forces) · de die Reihen schließen (to regroup forces)