spring to attention

spring to attention

To quickly or hurriedly assume a military posture in which one stands with one's body erect, one's heels together, one's arms at one's sides, and one's eyes facing forward. We all sprang to attention when Admiral Holt entered the barracks.

See also: attention, spring, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

spring to attention

to move quickly to assume the military posture of attention. The recruit sprang to attention.

See also: attention, spring, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.