marching orders
Americanplural noun
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Military. orders to begin a march or other troop movement.
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Informal.
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orders to start out, move on, proceed, etc..
We're just sitting by the phone, awaiting our marching orders.
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notice of dismissal from a position or job; walking papers.
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plural noun
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military orders, esp to infantry, giving instructions about a march, its destination, etc
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informal notice of dismissal, esp from employment
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informal the instruction to proceed with a task
Etymology
Origin of marching orders
First recorded in 1770–80
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His marching orders came straight from his wife, which is why that gnome won’t go up on eBay—at not least for now.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
Early in Michael McIndoe’s shift on Jan. 2, 2025, his crew got their marching orders: Pick up hoses left overnight at the scene of the Lachman fire.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026
Senegal midfielder Gueye was given his marching orders by referee Tony Harrington in the 13th minute after putting his hand to Keane's face following an angry altercation.
From Barron's • Nov. 24, 2025
And in October, Bournemouth made the most of their numerical advantage after William Saliba had been given his marching orders on the half-hour mark.
From BBC • Feb. 22, 2025
They talked about routes and marching orders and other military things I didn’t understand.
From "My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
