marching orders
Military. orders to begin a march or other troop movement.
Informal.
orders to start out, move on, proceed, etc.: We're just sitting by the phone, awaiting our marching orders.
notice of dismissal from a position or job; walking papers.
Origin of marching orders
1Words Nearby marching orders
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use marching orders in a sentence
Snowden gives the hacker community its marching orders: Fight surveillance by making privacy tools for everyone.
Thus the new marching orders: get madder about the same old things - but in an even more deranged fashion.
Current and former ISI officers give the Taliban their marching orders and help assist with critical fundraising in Pakistan.
But it appears more likely that Reid and Pelosi were getting their marching orders and being read the terms of surrender.
In similar fashion, Stern says the troops regularly received marching orders.
What things have I heard, what awful sights have I seen since I received my marching orders!
He would receive his marching orders within ten minutes of the discovery of what he had done.
The Gold Bat | P. G. WodehouseIf Falconnet has got his marching orders you may be sure he's tried by hook or crook to play 'safe bind, safe find,' with Madge.
The Master of Appleby | Francis LyndeIt was evident that the sudden marching orders had taken them all by surprise, and unsettled most of their brains.
Rutledge | Miriam Coles Harris"There are your marching orders, gentlemen, and a captain ready provided for you," said the honorary secretary sarcastically.
The Little Missis | Charlotte Skinner
British Dictionary definitions for marching orders
military orders, esp to infantry, giving instructions about a march, its destination, etc
informal notice of dismissal, esp from employment
informal the instruction to proceed with a task
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
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