The board's first instinct, after the scandal broke, was to circle the wagons. Members closed ranks behind their president, refused to comment publicly, and dismissed even routine inquiries from the press as hostile.
As used in the text, what does the phrase "circle the wagons" most nearly mean?
- A
begin a parade
- Bcheck_circle
form a defensive group
- C
accept defeat
- D
drive in formation
Explanation
The board closes ranks defensively against outside scrutiny; "circle the wagons" means form a defensive group, not literal driving, defeat, or parading.