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.

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

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