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close ranks
Definition
When the members of a group or organization close ranks, they make an effort to stay united, especially in order to defend themselves from severe criticism
In the past, the party would have closed ranks around its leader and defended him loyally.
(Definition of close ranks from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)
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Synonyms and related words:
- -backed
- back
- backing
- Behind every great/successful man there stands a woman.
- buttress
- espouse
- flag-waving
- pander to sb/sth
- solidly
- stand up for sth/sb
- stick together
- strike a blow for sth
- support v (ENCOURAGE)
- support v (HELP)
- support v (PROVIDE)
- support n (ENCOURAGEMENT)
- take up the cudgels for/against sb/sth
- tip the scales
- wave/show/fly the flag
- with
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