What it means
To hold the fort means to keep things going while someone else is away. You're the one covering the desk, the shop, the house, whatever needs babysitting, making sure nothing catches fire socially or literally. It comes from the old military image of defending a fort, but in real life it's usually way less dramatic and still somehow just as chaotic.
Usage examples
"Can you hold the fort while I pop to the shops? No worries. Ten minutes later the printer’s jammed, Sharon’s fuming, and someone’s nicked the biscuits."
"I am popping to the bank, can you hold the fort for half an hour?"
"She held the fort at the shop all weekend while the boss was away."
"I need to dash out for twenty minutes, can you hold the fort till I get back?"
"Cheers for holding the fort last night while I dealt with that family drama."
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Where it comes from
It started as military talk for defending a fort or position till relief arrived. The phrase was already around in the 1800s, and the American Civil War song Hold the Fort gave it an extra push into public ears. After that, it settled into everyday English for keeping things ticking over while someone’s away.
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