Synonyms

en garde

American

[ahn gahrd, ahn gard] / ɑn ˈgɑrd, ɑ̃ ˈgard /

interjection

Fencing.

(used as the call to the fencers by the director of a match to assume the prescribed position preparatory to action.)

en garde British

/ ɑ̃ ɡard /

interjection

on guard; a call to a fencer to adopt a defensive stance in readiness for an attack or bout

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

(of a fencer) in such a stance

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of en garde

< French: on guard

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.

See Examples For:

en garde

Every bout starts with an en garde stance: One foot pointed forward, the other sideways, knees bent in different directions, shoulders turned just so.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 6, 2022

When American cockroaches take an en garde position, they can kick at their attackers, he explained.

From Fox News ● Oct. 31, 2018

Homer took a moment before stepping to the en garde line.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2016

It shows us the artist en garde, taking a playfully defensive stance, engaging the viewer in a back-and-forth of incisive imagery that never quite yields to a lasting or certain interpretation.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 3, 2015

Alan and his teammates are perfectly still—perfectly en garde.

From "Black Brother, Black Brother" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023