close ranks

1. Unite, work together, as in The members decided to close ranks and confront the president. This expression, dating from the late 1700s, comes from the military, where it denotes bringing troops into close order so there are no gaps in the fighting line. (A slightly earlier form was close lines.) It has been used figuratively since the mid-1800s.

Example Sentences

It’s always easier to close ranks against the external foe than to battle the enemy within.

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“I watched the industry try to close ranks and not allow my dad to be a part of it. He just kept showing up. He did not stop. He became undeniable at a certain point,” said Trejo.

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I expect, of course, for the president to quickly close ranks.

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"Whenever there's a problem, they will close ranks and ignore. If that doesn't work, they would attack you with great ferocity," he told BBC Wales Investigates.

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He thinks Latino politicians need to close ranks like he feels other ethnicities do.

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