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close ranks

Unite, work together, as in The members decided to close ranks and confront the president. This expression, dating from the late 1700s, comes from the military, where it denotes bringing troops into close order so there are no gaps in the fighting line. (A slightly earlier form was close lines.) It has been used figuratively since the mid-1800s.

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Example Sentences

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He thinks Latino politicians need to close ranks like he feels other ethnicities do.

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Pennsylvania Rep. Summer Lee, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib—the only Palestinian American in Congress—were also on AIPAC’s wish list, but all three women were quick to close ranks with impressive fundraising hauls and endorsements.

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Republicans have sought to close ranks around Trump while Democrats remain divided over whether to proceed with President Biden at the top of their ticket.

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Dr. Anthony Fauci could vouch for the accuracy of Ibsen’s play, which depicts the way politicians and business leaders close ranks when a public health emergency threatens their pecuniary interests.

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"There is international pressure, and it is increasing," he said, "but it is precisely when the international pressure increases that we must close ranks among ourselves."

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closer close reach

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