fort (redirected from Forts)

hold the fort

Fig. to take care of a place while someone who is usually there is gone, such as a store or one's home. (From western movies.) I'm going next door to visit Mrs. Jones. You stay here and hold the fort. You should open the store at eight o'clock and hold the fort until I get there at ten.

See also: hold

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be like Fort Knox  (humorous)

if a building or an area is like Fort Knox, it is very difficult to enter or leave it because it is so well protected

Usage notes: Fort Knox is the building where the United States keeps its supplies of gold.

Our house is like Fort Knox with all these extra security locks.

See also: like

hold the fort  (British, American & Australian) also hold down the fort (American)

to be left in charge of a situation or place while someone is away Someone had to stay at home and hold the fort while my mother was out.

See also: hold