Marches

Related to Marches: marchesa, Welsh Marches

an army marches on its stomach

proverb A well-fed army is most effective. The cook may be the most important person in the unit because an army marches on its stomach.
See also: army, Marches, on, stomach

march against (someone or something)

To join in a protest march in opposition to someone or something. Nearly 200,000 people have come to march against the legislation being pushed forward by the new administration. Protestors marching against the new prime minister were violently dispelled by police forces earlier this morning.
See also: march

march in step (with someone or something)

1. Literally, to follow or maintain the proper rhythm of someone or something else while marching. It was impressive to see so many troops all marching in step during the military parade. The children marched in step with their teacher as they walked to the library.
2. To conform to or act in accordance with someone or something, especially by doing what is considered correct, proper, acceptable, etc. You really need to start marching in step if you want to keep your job as our lead artist—you work for the company, not for yourself. The senator is often criticized for not marching in step with the views of her political party, but that's why so many people across the country love her.
See also: march, someone, step

march in time (with someone or something)

To follow or maintain the proper rhythm of someone or something else while marching. It was impressive to see so many troops all marching in time during the military parade. The children marched in time with their teacher as they walked to the library.
See also: march, someone, time

march on

1. To continue walking or marching forward. We had no choice but to march on, despite the rain.
2. To continue doing something or making progress. We've run into a few problems with the software, but we're still marching on to meet our December deadline.
3. To move forward unabated or unhindered. Each day marches on, and before we know it, we're in our 50s with all the promise of our youth behind us.
See also: march, on

march out of step (with someone or something)

1. Literally, to fail to follow or maintain the proper rhythm of someone or something else while marching. It was almost painful watching them all march out of step during the parade like that—it was obvious they hadn't spent any time practicing or rehearsing. One little boy kept marching out of step with the rest of his class as they walked across the stage.
2. To fail or refuse to conform to or act in accordance with someone or something, especially by doing what is considered correct, proper, acceptable, etc. You really need to stop marching out of step if you want to keep your job as our lead artist—you work for the company, not for yourself. The senator is often criticized for marching out of step with the views of her political party, but that's why so many people across the country love her.
See also: march, of, out, someone, step

march out of time (with someone or something)

1. Literally, to fail to follow or maintain the proper rhythm of someone or something else while marching. It was almost painful watching them all march out of time during the parade like that—it was obvious they hadn't spent any time practicing or rehearsing. One little boy kept marching out of time with the rest of his class as they walked across the stage.
2. To fail or refuse to conform to or act in accordance with someone or something, especially by doing what is considered correct, proper, acceptable, etc. You really need to stop marching out of time if you want to keep your job as our lead artist—you work for the company, not for yourself. The senator is often criticized for marching out of time with the views of her political party, but that's why so many people across the country love her.
See also: march, of, out, someone, time

march past

1. Literally, to walk past (someone or something) in a unified group or regimented file or formation. We all trembled in fear as the soldiers marched past. As if to add insult to injury at having to stay home and study, a huge crowd of people all marched past my window on their way to the ceremony.
2. To proceed or progress onward toward the future without one. My greatest fear is being stuck in some dead-end job, watching the days of my life march past. They deserve the disqualification—let the championship march past them this year!
See also: march, past

march to (one's) own beat

To do something, act, or behave in a manner that does not conform to the standard, prevalent, or popular societal norm. My brother's eschewed the idea of a full-time career and has had every oddball job you could think of, but then he's always been happy marching to his own beat. Look, I respect the fact that you like to march to your own beat, but do you have to make a point of doing everything in a counter-cultural way?
See also: beat, march, own

march to (the beat of) (one's) own drum

To do something, act, or behave in a manner that does not conform to the standard, prevalent, or popular societal norm. My brother's eschewed the idea of a full-time career and has had every oddball job you could think of, but then he's always been happy marching to the beat of his own drum. Look, I respect the fact that you like to march to your own drum, but do you have to make a point of doing everything in a counter-cultural way?
See also: beat, drum, march, own

march to (the beat of) a different drum

To do something, act, or behave in a manner that does not conform to the standard, prevalent, or popular societal norm. My brother's eschewed the idea of a full-time career and has had every oddball job you could think of, but then he's always been happy marching to the beat of a different drum. Look, I respect the fact that you like to march to a different drum, but do you have to make a point of doing everything in a counter-cultural way?
See also: beat, different, drum, march

march to (the beat of) a different drummer

To behave or do things in a manner that does not conform to the standard, prevalent, or popular societal norm. My brother eschewed the idea of a full-time career, taking all kinds of different oddball jobs. But then he's always been happy marching to the beat of a different drummer. Look, I respect the fact that you like to march to a different drummer, but do you have to do everything in such contrarian ways?
See also: beat, different, drummer, march

march to (the beat of) a different tune

To do something or behave in a manner that does not conform to the standard, prevalent, or popular societal norm. My brother's eschewed the idea of a full-time career and has had every oddball job you could think of, but then he's always been happy marching to the beat of a different tune.
See also: beat, different, march, tune

march to a different beat

To do something, act, or behave in a manner that does not conform to the standard, prevalent, or popular societal norm. My brother's eschewed the idea of a full-time career and has had every oddball job you could think of, but then he's always been happy marching to a different beat. Look, I respect the fact that you like to march to a different beat, but do you have to make a point of doing everything in a contrarian way?
See also: beat, different, march

quick march

1. noun A very quick or brisk walk. But it was no quick march for the celebrity, who made a point of shaking the hands of as many fans as he could.
2. verb To walk very quickly or briskly. A reference to military marching. Often issued as a command. Police are pursuing a suspect who was seen quick marching away from the scene of the crime. Come on, now, quick march! It's starting to rain.
See also: march, quick

slow march

1. A slow but steady progression toward a particular end. We know now that Gladys has been on a slow march toward death—her condition is terminal. I'm afraid that, without any changes, the company is on a slow march toward bankruptcy.
2. A slower-paced, rhythmic piece of music originally used to accompany marching soldiers. We're rehearsing a slow march for the concert on Sunday.
See also: march, slow
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

An army marches on its stomach.

Prov. An army needs a regular supply of food in order to keep on fighting. The invading army will soon have to pull back. An army marches on its stomach, and they're out of food.
See also: army, Marches, on, stomach

march on

 
1. Lit. to continue marching. Please march on. Don't stop here; there are other parts of the parade coming along behind you. Let's march on. We have a long way to go.
2. Fig. [for time] to continue. Time marches on. We are all getting older. As the day marches on, try to get everything completed.
See also: march, on

march past someone or something

to move in a file or formation past someone or something. The people in the parade marched past the children standing on the curb. The soldiers marched past the general.
See also: march, past
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

march to a different beat

Also, march to a different drummer. Act independently, differ in conduct or ideas from most others, as in Joe wanted to be married on a mountain top-he always marches to a different beat, or Sarah has her own ideas for the campaign; she marches to a different drummer. This idiom, alluding to being out of step in a parade, is a version of Henry David Thoreau's statement in Walden (1854): "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." It came into wide use in the mid-1900s.
See also: beat, different, march
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

an army marches on its stomach

soldiers or workers can only fight or function effectively if they have been well fed.
The saying has been attributed to both Frederick the Great and Napoleon I. It is a version of the French phrase c'est la soupe qui fait le soldat .
See also: army, Marches, on, stomach
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

ˌquick ˈmarch

used for telling somebody to walk faster: Come on! Quick march or we’ll miss the bus.
‘Quick march’ is also a command given to soldiers.
See also: march, quick
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

march on

v.
1. To continue to march: The militia marched on despite the jeers from the people on the sidewalk.
2. To assemble and walk to some place in order to express an opinion, especially opposition, to people of power there: The employees' union marched on the state capitol.
See also: march, on
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • an army marches on its stomach
  • army
  • army brat
  • teach a man to fish
  • village
  • it takes a village
  • besiege
  • besiege with
  • besiege with (something)
  • best-laid plans go astray, the
References in periodicals archive
"We're hoping the march continues the legacy of past marches to inspire a new generation of leaders to form a new generation of organizations," she says.
March organizers also emphasize that controversy often surrounds national marches, including the landmark 1963 civil rights march on Washington, and has been a factor in each of the national gay civil rights marches.
As a result of such strategic shortcomings, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, another Washington, D.C.-based political group, is calling for marches on every state capitol, scheduled for 1999.
National marches may not serve the crucial role of advancing gay causes the way they once did.
Gay activists have a long history of organizing some of the largest marches on Washington in U.S.