ON GUARD

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does on guard mean? 

• ON GUARD (adjective)
  The adjective ON GUARD has 1 sense:

1. vigilant

  Familiarity information: ON GUARD used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ON GUARD (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Vigilant

Synonyms:

on guard; on one's guard; on your guard; upon one's guard

Context example:

must remain on your guard in such a situation

Similar:

wary (marked by keen caution and watchful prudence)

 Context examples 

Do you stay on guard, my good Watson, and receive any fresh visitors.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Two of the lads walked up to the trainer’s house, where they had supper in the kitchen, while the third, Ned Hunter, remained on guard.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

All I can do is to watch the house and leave my agent, Warner, on guard at the gates.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Then on guard again!” cried the young squire, and sprang in with a fire and a fury which more than made up for the shortness of his weapon.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Somebody hailing us,” said Hunter, who was on guard.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Prudence, on the one hand, warned me that I should remain on guard, but exhausted Nature, on the other, declared that I should do nothing of the kind.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

We’ll sit up on guard with our pistols, nephew, and I only trust that these villains may be indiscreet enough to attempt it.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Except when carried away by his enthusiasm, he was always on guard, keenly watchful of their actions and learning their little courtesies and refinements of conduct.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Yet he continued to fear, and he stood on guard, expectant of unguessed evil, alternately suffering and enjoying as one feeling or the other came uppermost and swayed him.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

These two girls had been above an hour in the place, happily employed in visiting an opposite milliner, watching the sentinel on guard, and dressing a salad and cucumber.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)