When themembersof agroupororganizationcloseranks, they make anefforttostayunited,especiallyinordertodefendthemselves fromseverecriticism:
（尤指团体或组织成员为免受批评而）紧密团结，携手合作，抱团In the past, thepartywould haveclosedranksarounditsleaderanddefendedhimloyally.要是放在以前，该党会紧紧团结在其领袖周围，忠心地维护他。