Definition

1. Noun:
   • A slogan used to rally support for a cause: A word or phrase expressing a principle or goal, used to unite people behind a shared idea or movement.
   • A yell intended to rally a group of soldiers in battle: A loud shout or cry used historically by soldiers to boost morale, intimidate the enemy, or signal an attack during combat.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Slogan for a cause):
  • "The civil rights movement's powerful battle cry was 'We shall overcome.'"
  • "The candidate's campaign was built on the simple battle cry of 'Change now!'"
• Noun (Military shout):
  • "The soldiers gave a fierce battle cry as they charged over the hill."
  • "In the film, the warriors' battle cry echoed across the valley before the clash."

Advanced Usage

• "To become a battle cry": To evolve into a phrase that symbolizes and motivates a group's struggle.
  • The phrase "No taxation without representation" became a battle cry for the American colonists.
• Figurative Use: Used to describe any strongly expressed principle or call to action in a non-military context.
  • The CEO's speech ended with a battle cry for innovation and risk-taking.

Variants and Related Words

• War cry: A synonym, often used interchangeably with "battle cry," especially for the military shout.
• Rallying cry: Very similar to the "slogan" meaning, emphasizing the call to unite and take action.
• Watchword: A word or phrase that embodies a principle and guides a group's actions; closely related to the "slogan" sense.

Synonyms

• Slogan: A short, memorable phrase used in advertising or politics.
• Motto: A short sentence or phrase expressing a belief or ideal.
• Shout: A loud cry (for the military sense).
• Clarion call: A strongly expressed demand for action.

Related Phrases

• Cry to arms: A call to prepare for or engage in a fight or conflict, literal or figurative.
  • The editorial was a cry to arms for environmental activists.

Related Idioms

• A call to battle: While not a fixed idiom, this phrase captures the essence of a battle cry as a signal to begin a fight or major effort.
  • The leaked document served as a call to battle for the investigative journalists.

Noun

1. a slogan used to rally support for a cause
   • a cry to arms
   • our watchword will be `democracy'
2. a yell intended to rally a group of soldiers in battle