Indian file

Indian file

1. noun A line one person or one thing in width; single file. One of many expressions often considered offensive for making reference to Native American stereotypes or tropes. An Indian file of geese—such an unusual flight pattern for the bird—crossed overhead as we traversed the field.
2. adverb In such a line. The students lined up and walked Indian file into the auditorium.
See also: file, Indian
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

(in) single/Indian ˈfile

in a line, one person after another: The whole class walked along behind the teacher in single file.When American Indians walked in a group, each person walked in the footsteps of the person in front so that they could not be counted by the enemy.
See also: file, Indian, single
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • cooking for one
  • drive (one) out of office
  • force (one) out of office
  • force out of office
  • give (one) (one's) head
  • give head
  • give somebody their head
  • give someone their head
  • as one door closes, another (one) opens
  • as one door closes, another opens
References in periodicals archive
CHASE IS ON: Two runners (yellow shirts) set the pace during the early stages of a girls' race; at Clarke Gardens Pictures: EDDIE BARFORD; INDIAN FILE: Competitors play follow the leader in the testing conditions; HAT'STHE WAY: Some of the boys sport head wear to protect them against the elements in their race
You can walk Indian file along a trail painted on the pavement, linking sites that played a major part inthe battle for independence.
The competitions will include Indian file, lemon and sword, pairs (spear and sword) and rings in the individual category.
Winning trainer Pam Sly said: "He can be too keen, and although they didn't go much of a gallop they were in Indian file. "If one had come upsides him he'd probably have been off."
Explaining the format, organising committee chairman and OEF official Major Hamood Al Balushi said: "The competitions will include Indian file, lemon and sword, pairs (spear and sword) and rings in the individual category.
The quartet raced in indian file until the final two furlongs but it was from thereon that Ted Durcan unleashed the 8-13 shot and he quickly asserted and went on to put two and three-quarter lengths between himself and the rallying Meeriss.
Held up last as the five runners raced in Indian file, Multidimensional needed some firm pushing from well over two furlongs out, but only the two taps as he closed right up by the furlong marker and went by Oracle West close home.
For a while the two-horse Indian file seems to be closing rather slowly, but as they near and Featherstonehaugh moves Motivator out, you are hit by the moment every racing person always dreams of - the sight of a true thoroughbred on the stretch.
Kinane was paying his first visit to Newmarket this spring when taking the leg up on leading 2,000 Guineas fancy Rob Roy, who followed up Santa Fe with Zalongo behind him in Indian file. Kinane was also busy at second lot, when he had the chance to sit on the Khalid Abdullah-owned Discuss, runner-up in a Newmarket maiden on her sole start last season.
The big field helped - they went in Indian file at Haydock last time and that was no good."
In the closing stages, the field is shown head-on as they are strung out in Indian file in the straight.
His Doncaster race last time was a non-event as far as he was concerned - they raced in Indian file and didn't go much of a gallop."
But that came to a bone-crunching halt last October when riding Hills's three-year-old Indian File.
It is no coincidence that Mickelson, the orginal no-brainer on the US Tour who insists on playing macho golf even on fairways where players almost have to walk in Indian file, is the biggest earner at Castle Pines with two victories and two second places in the nine years since they moved the goalposts and decided the winner over four rounds.
Indian file fairways like he did at St Andrews a few years back, while Scott Hoch is only here to please his sponsor - he hates this event with a passion - and Rocco Mediate didn't want to come because of a loss of form and had to be persuaded by his coach.