hold down the fort

To "hold down the fort" is an idiom used to describe taking responsibility for a situation, maintaining order, or overseeing operations while the primary supervisor or group is temporarily away. The phrase is a variation of the original military command "hold the fort," which means to defend a fortified position from attack. Historically, the idiom is most famously linked to the American Civil War; in 1864, General William Tecumseh Sherman signaled a message to General John M. Corse to "hold the fort" at Allatoona Pass against Confederate forces until reinforcements could arrive.

In recent years, the phrase has been flagged in some inclusive language guides as a term to potentially avoid. The concern is that for some Indigenous peoples in North America, the imagery of "forts" is inextricably linked to colonial expansion, the displacement of Native populations, and violent conflict. Critics argue that using the phrase trivializes this history. Conversely, others view the phrase as a "dead metaphor"—a figure of speech that has lost its original imagery through overuse—and argue that its Civil War etymology (Union vs. Confederate) is distinct from the Indian Wars. Because the term can be interpreted differently depending on the listener's background, some speakers opt for neutral alternatives in professional settings.

Examplse:

"I need you to hold down the fort and answer any client emails while I am at the dentist."

"With the boss on vacation, the junior team members had to hold down the fort for the entire week."