relief troops
Definition
Noun (plural):
- Military reinforcements: "relief troops" refers to fresh soldiers sent to replace or support other military units, especially those that are exhausted, depleted, or under heavy attack.
Usage Examples
- (Fresh soldiers were sent to replace tired units.)
- (Reinforcements came to support the surrounded soldiers.)
- (The replacement soldiers moved quickly to aid the combat zone.)
Advanced Usage
"to send relief troops": to dispatch reinforcements to a military area.
- The government decided to send relief troops to the conflict zone. (They ordered additional soldiers to the region.)
"to await relief troops": to wait for the arrival of replacement or supporting forces.
- The stranded unit could only await relief troops to break the enemy encirclement. (They had no choice but to wait for help.)
Variants and Related Words
Relief (n): the act of replacing someone on duty; assistance or aid given to those in need.
- The relief arrived just as the guard was about to collapse from exhaustion. (The replacement soldier came at the right time.)
Troops (n): soldiers or armed forces collectively.
- The troops were ordered to stand down after the battle. (The soldiers were told to rest.)
Synonyms
- Reinforcements: additional soldiers sent to strengthen a military position.
- Backup forces: supplementary military units ready to support primary troops.
- Reserves: military personnel held in readiness for use when needed.
Related Idioms
Ride to the rescue: to come to someone's aid, often in a dramatic or timely manner.
- The relief troops rode to the rescue just before the fortress fell. (They arrived in time to save the situation.)
Turn the tide: to change the course of a battle or situation.
- The arrival of relief troops turned the tide in the defenders' favor. (The reinforcements changed the battle's outcome.)