Pickett's charge

English

Alternative forms

• Pickett's Charge

Etymology

A reference to an event during the American Civil War, wherein 16,000 Confederate infantrymen attacked Union positions; the attack failed, with several thousand Confederate casualties.

Noun

Pickett's charge (plural Pickett's charges)

1. A valiant but futile frontal assault.
2. A major battle.
3. A bad decision. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

Quotations

• For quotations using this term, see Citations:Pickett's charge.

Synonyms

• (valiant, futile frontal assault): Charge of the Light Brigade

See also

• cold steel