rally round the flag

present singular third person rallies round the flag · participle present rallying round the flag · participle past rallied round the flag · past rallied round the flag · alternative rally around the flag

1. idiomaticTo unite in order to support one's country, especially during a crisis or war.

   The result was not revolt, but a familiar wartime dynamic: a rally around the flag, reinforced by coercion and fear of state retribution.

   2026 April 23, Fawaz Gerges, “Trump’s war has backfired spectacularly: Iran is now more influential than ever”, in The Guardian, →ISSN

   1 more example

   Alternatively, the fires and explosions might cause Russians to rally around the flag in ways damaging to Ukraine, such as in building support for a general mobilization in Russia.

   2022 April 30, Andrew E. Kramer, “Ukrainian Official Outlines Intentional Ambiguity on Strikes Inside Russia”, in The New York Times, →ISSN