MARCHING ORDERS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does marching orders mean? 

• MARCHING ORDERS (noun)
  The noun MARCHING ORDERS has 2 senses:

1. (informal) a notice of dismissal or discharge

2. an order from a superior officer for troops to depart

  Familiarity information: MARCHING ORDERS used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MARCHING ORDERS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(informal) a notice of dismissal or discharge

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

marching orders; walking papers

Hypernyms ("marching orders" is a kind of...):

dismissal; dismission; pink slip (official notice that you have been fired from your job)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An order from a superior officer for troops to depart

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("marching orders" is a kind of...):

order ((often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed)

 Context examples 

This gives the T cells marching orders to look for that retinal protein and attack it.

(In uveitis, bacteria in gut may instruct immune cells to attack the eye, NIH)