stand sentinel
Keep protective watch
To stand sentinel is to keep watch or guard over something, maintaining vigilant attention.
The phrase comes from military usage, where a sentinel is a soldier stationed to watch for danger.
It extends to figurative uses: Ancient oaks stand sentinel along the driveway.
Things that stand sentinel are protective, watchful, or symbolically guarding what lies beyond them.
- watchdogGuard or monitor
- guardWatchful defensive attention
- sentryGuard on duty
- silent vigilWordless period of watchfulness
- vigilPurposeful nighttime wakefulness
protect · hold the line · monitor · watchman · oversee · patrol · border patrol · outpost · defender · bulwark · observe · gatekeeper · tower guard · soldier · surveillance · scout · picket · security officer
stand sentinellet one's guard down
Cease being defensive
nod off · look the other way · turn a blind eye · daydream · zone out
stand, sentinel, stands, standing, stood, standstill, standpoint, withstand, understand