man the fort
Keep things going
To man the fort is to take temporary charge of a place or operation while others are away: Can you man the fort while I'm at lunch?
The phrase comes from military contexts—maintaining a garrison—but now applies to any situation requiring someone to hold down responsibilities in another's absence.
Sometimes appears as hold the fort.
- guardingActively protecting something
- defendingProtecting against harm
- hold the lineMaintain current position
- deputizingAppointing a stand-in
- step upIncrease or advance
accountability · covering · cover for · stewardship · substitution · filling in · cooperation · assisting · securing · on duty · skeleton crew · collaboration · hold down · supervision · caretaking · take charge · take the reins · acting manager
man the fortdesert
To leave behind completely
abandon ship · walk away · abdicate · flee · vacate
man the fortneglect
Failure to provide care
drop the ball · leave to chance · take one's eye off the ball · slack off · stand down
man the fortabandon ship
Evacuate a sinking vessel
walk away · leave in the lurch · drop the ball · dereliction of duty · bail out
man, fort, manned, manning, mans, manly, manliness, unmanned, manhood