rearguard
Significado: The soldiers or units positioned at the rear of an army to protect it during a retreat; figuratively, a defensive or last-ditch effort to resist an inevitable change.
The figurative phrase 'rearguard action' is far more common than the literal military sense in contemporary English. It describes a determined but ultimately futile attempt to prevent change that is already well advanced — a factory fighting closure, a politician resisting party reform, or an industry lobbying against regulation. The connotation is of brave but doomed resistance. It collocates with 'rearguard action,' 'fight a rearguard,' 'rearguard defence,' and 'rearguard battle.'
Ejemplos
- The print industry fought a rearguard action against the rise of digital media, but circulation figures continued to decline. 印刷业对数字媒体的崛起发起了一场后卫战,但发行量数字继续下滑。La industria de la prensa libró una acción de retaguardia contra el auge de los medios digitales, pero las cifras de tirada siguieron cayendo.印刷業界はデジタルメディアの台頭に対して後衛的な抵抗を試みたが、発行部数は減少し続けた。인쇄 산업은 디지털 미디어의 부상에 대해 후위적 저항을 시도했으나, 발행 부수는 계속 감소했다.
- Backbenchers mounted a rearguard defence of the existing planning laws, tabling dozens of amendments to delay the bill. 后座议员对现有的规划法展开了后卫式捍卫,提出了数十项修正案以拖延法案的进程。Los diputados de los escaños traseros montaron una defensa de retaguardia de las leyes urbanísticas vigentes, presentando decenas de enmiendas para retrasar el proyecto de ley.与党バックベンチ議員たちは既存の都市計画法の後衛的防衛を行い、法案を遅延させるために数十の修正案を提出した。여당 평의원들은 기존 도시계획법에 대한 후위적 방어에 나서, 법안 통과를 지연시키기 위해 수십 건의 수정안을 제출했다.
- The rearguard held the bridge for three hours, buying enough time for the main force to complete its withdrawal across the river. 后卫部队守住了那座桥三个小时,为主力部队完成渡河撤退赢得了足够的时间。La retaguardia mantuvo el puente durante tres horas, dando tiempo suficiente a la fuerza principal para completar su retirada al otro lado del río.後衛部隊は3時間にわたり橋を守り、本隊が川を渡って撤退を完了するのに十分な時間を稼いだ。후위 부대는 3시간 동안 다리를 사수하여 본대가 강을 건너 철수를 완료할 충분한 시간을 벌어주었다.
Pronunciación
Guía de uso
Contexto: media, political, academic, historical
Tono: neutral
Origen e historia
From Old French rereguarde, from rere (behind, back) and garde (guard). Entered English in the 15th century as a military term; the figurative 'rearguard action' sense became established by the 19th century.
Contexto cultural
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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