What is circling the wagon?
What is circling the wagon?
chiefly US, informal. : to gather a group of people together in order to protect them from being attacked —usually used figuratively Reporters tend to circle the wagons whenever the media are attacked for bias.
Did they really circle the wagons?
Contrary to the depictions of dime novels and Hollywood Westerns, attacks by the Plains Indians were not the greatest hazard faced by westbound settlers. While pioneer trains did circle their wagons at night, it was mostly to keep their draft animals from wandering off, not protect against an ambush.
What was one of the most deadly illnesses the pioneers faced?
Diseases and serious illnesses caused the deaths of nine out of ten pioneers. Such diseases as cholera, small pox, flu, measles, mumps, tuberculosis could spread quickly through an entire wagon camp. Cholera was the main scourge of the trail.
Why did settlers circle their wagons at night?
At night, wagon trains were often formed into a circle or square for shelter from wind or weather, and to corral the emigrants’ animals in the center to prevent them from running away or being stolen by Native Americans.
How do you use circling back in a sentence?
Calmly curious, they cruise right up to us before passing gently overhead, circling back for a series of fly-bys. We tried to get them away from their weapons but they kept circling back to them. Sue, my wife, is taking a long run on the beach and then circling back to buy fresh shrimp for supper.
What does the term doubling down mean?
Doubling down is phrase most often associated with blackjack. It describes a situation in which the player doubles his or her initial bet due either their confidence in the cards they are holding and/or their perceived weakness of the cards being held by the casino dealer.
What does circling the drain mean?
(idiomatic) To be in rapid decline or a state of downfall, especially as leading to inevitable utter failure or destruction.
What does Nobody circles the wagons mean?
At night, or when threatened during the day, the wagons would stop moving. The drivers then would line up all the carriages in a circle. This was a way of protecting the settlers from attack. They would keep their cattle and other animals within the circle. AND NOBODY CIRCLES THE WAGONS LIKE THE BUFFALO BILLS.
Why did the US government want people to move to the West?
One of the main reasons people moved west was for the land. There was lots of land, good soil for farming, and it could be bought at a cheap price. In addition, it was very crowded living on the East Coast. The population of the United States was growing at a very fast rate.
Why did the US want to move west after the Civil War?
the Homestead Act of 1862, which gave free public land in the western territories to settlers who would live on and farm the land. Southerners and African Americans, in particular, moved west to seek new opportunities after the Civil War.
What can I say instead of circle back?
other words for circle back
- come back.
- retire.
- turn.
- reconsider.
- recur.
- reexamine.
- repair.
- repeat.
What is a circle of wagons called?
A wagon fort, wagon fortress, or corral, often referred to as circling the wagons, is a temporary fortification made of wagons arranged into a rectangle, circle, or other shape and possibly joined with each other to produce an improvised military camp.
Why did American settlers decide to settle western lands?
Some simply hoped to buy any kind of farmland. They did not have enough money to buy farmland in the east. Others came from other countries and hoped to build new lives in the United States. All the settlers found it easy to get land in the West.
How long did it take pioneers to cross the country?
The covered wagon made 8 to 20 miles per day depending upon weather, roadway conditions and the health of the travelers. It could take up to six months or longer to reach their destination.
Why did the settlers move west?
Pioneer settlers were sometimes pushed west because they couldn’t find good jobs that paid enough. Others had trouble finding land to farm. Pioneer settlers were sometimes pulled west because they wanted to make a better living. Others received letters from friends or family members who had moved west.
How much did wagons cost in the 1800s?
It was costly—as much as $1,000 for a family of four. That fee included a wagon at about $100. Usually four or six animals had to pull the wagon. Oxen were slower, but held up better than horses or mules.
What does circle back mean?
Connecting with folks on a business issue and letting things happen, then going back to them after a few days or after things evolve. For example, “I will circle back with you in a few days on that compensation memo.” See also : meeting specialist rish.
What does I will circle back mean?
to discuss it later
What is a Let’s circle back guy?
If a guy uses the expression “let’s circle back”, meaning to return to an issue later, that makes him a “let’s circle back” guy – that is, a particular kind of person.
What are some possible consequences of using excessive jargon or phrases in communication?
When Jargon Doesn’t Work At the very least, it can confuse the message so the recipient loses interest. Jargon can waste time and money. When documents and emails take longer to read and to understand, people may grow frustrated.
What were the two main causes of death along the trail?
Nearly one in ten who set off on the Oregon Trail did not survive. The two biggest causes of death were disease and accidents.