# man the fort

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/man-the-fort
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To take care of a place or situation in another's absence.

## Examples

- Can you man the fort while I go get lunch?
- My boss asked me to man the fort at the office while the rest of the team attends the conference.
- With the manager away on an urgent business trip, he entrusted his most reliable assistant to man the fort and oversee the daily operations until his return.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.