circle the wagons
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
To unite a group for a common purpose.
How to use it
✗ Avoid it when
This expression is widely considered racist or offensive today; the history is documented in the notes. Documented here descriptively, not as an endorsement.
Connotation: offensive to many; contested
Sources & notes
Imported from Wikipedia “List of idioms considered racist” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29), pending review. Why it’s contested: Some Indigenous people view the term as offensive based on its literal meaning stemming from the manifest destiny era when many tribes were driven off of their land by settlers arriving by wagon. Some critique the term on the basis that it is culturally insensitive and evokes racist images of Native Americans. Figurative class: Metaphor (PIE-English corpus, CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31).
Common questions
What does “circle the wagons” mean?
To unite a group for a common purpose.
Is “circle the wagons” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.