Hold down the fort

Meaning

To look after a place or keep things running smoothly while the person in charge is away. It implies a sense of responsibility and guarding.

Responsible, reliable

Used in a sentence

• You go to the meeting and I will stay here and hold down the fort.
• The interns had to hold down the fort while the managers were at the retreat.
• My brother is holding down the fort at the family business while my parents are on vacation.