Expressions of battle, and collective nouns

Battle expressions. The chapter uses phrases about war that we now use in everyday English too:

• fight to the last man: keep fighting until everyone has fallen ('I shall not withdraw an inch but will fight to the last man and the last round');
• foil the plan: make someone's plan fail (ninety men foiled the plan of five hundred);
• deliver a blow: strike hard at someone (the invaders wanted to deliver a blow to India);
• hold their ground: stay in position and not give way.

Outside war:

• a detective foils a culprit's plan by finding the evidence first;
• a last-minute goal delivers a blow to the other team's confidence;
• hikers hold their ground in heavy rain, refusing to turn back.

Collective nouns. The text says 'a contingent of troops'. The armed forces have a word for each kind of group:

• regiment: a permanent army unit, made up of several smaller units (the Kumaon Regiment);
• battalion: a large group of soldiers ready for battle, especially foot soldiers (the 4th Battalion);
• squadron: a small unit of about 12–24 aircraft and their crews;
• fleet: a group of ships sailing together.

Use them:

• 'The admiral ordered the entire fleet to set sail.'
• 'A squadron of fighter jets was sent to stop the enemy planes.'