Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

hold the fort

Idioms  

  1. Assume responsibility, especially in another's absence; also, maintain a secure position. For example, Harry did a good job of holding the fort until his boss recovered, or Can you hold the fort in the kitchen? This expression has been traced to an order given by General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1864, which was repeated as “Hold the fort [against the enemy at Allatoona] at all costs, for I am coming.”

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.

"And is that possible for next week? I genuinely do not know. My job was to come in and hold the fort, and the minute that someone is appointed, I will step aside."

From Barron's • Nov. 14, 2025

GM Pat Verbeek inherited coach Dallas Eakins and knew there was no hope the team would contend, so Verbeek hoped Eakins could at least hold the fort and help their kids develop.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2023

“We’ve got to hold the fort down until he’s ready.”

From Seattle Times • Dec. 27, 2022

For now, it is entirely down to volunteers to hold the fort.

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2021

They are leaving tomorrow to go to Belgium, and we’re going back to Kilanga to hold the fort until another family can come.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

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.