tour of duty
Americannoun
-
a period of military service in a particular theater of war, with a particular unit, or assigned to a particular task.
He volunteered for two tours of duty in Afghanistan.
-
a period of work or service in a particular role, field, workplace, etc.; tour.
After a tour of duty in banking, she followed her father into the development company.
Etymology
Origin of tour of duty
First recorded in 1865–70
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.
An Israeli citizen, he was called up as a reservist for a tour of duty with the Israel Defence Forces.
From BBC
After a tour of duty in Iraq, Retes moved back to Ventura County this year to find a job and spend more time with his wife and two young children.
From Los Angeles Times
Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs said: "All officers should expect to return home safely after each tour of duty and we wish Christopher a swift and full recovery."
From BBC
While on their tour of duty, the judges decide on FBI requests to wiretap alleged foreign spies.
From Salon
Luke Shipman never remembered the nights he was screaming in terror after a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
From BBC
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.
