battle cry

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A shout made by soldiers or fighters as they attack, to encourage themselves or frighten the enemy.

   Grammar: Countable: one battle cry, many battle cries.

   Patterns

   • a battle cry of something

   The soldiers let out a loud battle cry as they charged.

   A battle cry rose from the hillside.

   The old warriors had a traditional battle cry.

2. 2nouncountablefigurative

   A phrase or slogan that rallies people to support a cause.

   Grammar: Often figurative: a rallying battle cry.

   Patterns

   • the battle cry of something

   Fair pay became the battle cry of the movement.

   Save our school was the battle cry of the parents.

   The team's battle cry was Never give up.

Word forms

Common combinations

let out a battle cry

She let out a battle cry before the race.

rallying battle cry

It became a rallying battle cry for reform.

become a battle cry

The slogan became a battle cry for the campaign.

shout a battle cry

The children shouted a battle cry as they ran.

battle cry of

Freedom was the battle cry of the revolt.

Synonyms and how they differ

war cry

War cry is almost identical and slightly more dramatic.

rallying cry

Rallying cry is more often used for political or social causes.

slogan

A slogan can be any catchy phrase, not always one meant to rally people to fight.

motto

A motto is a guiding principle, calmer than a battle cry.

Opposites

Word family

battle noun

a fight between armies

cry noun

a loud shout

battlefield noun

the place of a battle

battle verb

to fight or struggle

Commonly confused: battle cry or battle song?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “battle cry”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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