forced march
Definition
Noun: - Military rapid movement: A "forced march" is a long, fast march, typically undertaken by soldiers or a military unit, that requires them to travel at a pace faster than normal, often over a long distance, and usually under stressful conditions such as carrying heavy equipment or in a short time frame.
Usage Examples
- (A military unit moved quickly and strenuously over a long distance.)
- (A rapid, exhausting march to avoid capture.)
Advanced Usage
- "to be on a forced march": to be engaged in such a rapid movement.
- The troops were on a forced march through the mountains, carrying full packs. (They were moving quickly and with difficulty over mountainous terrain.)
- "to conduct a forced march": to carry out this type of march.
- The general conducted a forced march to surprise the enemy at dawn. (The commander ordered a fast march to achieve tactical surprise.)
Variants and Related Words
- Forced (adj): done or produced under compulsion or by force.
- The forced march left the soldiers exhausted. (The march was compelled by necessity, not choice.)
- March (n): a formal, steady walk, especially by soldiers in a military formation.
- The march lasted for hours, but the forced march was even harder. (A normal march is slower; a forced march is faster and more demanding.)
Synonyms
- Rapid march: a march done at a quick pace.
- Haste march: a march done in a hurry, often with urgency.
- Quickstep: a fast-paced march, though less intense than a forced march.
Related Idioms
- "to march at double time": to move at a pace faster than a normal march, often used in military contexts.
- The soldiers were ordered to march at double time to reach the rendezvous. (They moved at a quick, running pace.)
- "to march to the beat of a different drum": to act independently or in a non-conformist way (not directly related to forced march, but shares the verb "march").
- She always marches to the beat of a different drum, unlike her disciplined comrades. (She behaves differently from others.)