changing of the guard

English

Changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, London

Alternative forms

• change of the guard, changing of the guards

Noun

changing of the guard (plural changings of the guard)

1. (usually preceded by the) A ceremony during which the soldiers or other officials guarding a major government building or state residence, especially Buckingham Palace in England, are replaced by a new shift.

   Synonym: guard mounting

2. (figuratively, by extension) Any situation in which an individual or group charged with a task or responsibilities in an organization is replaced by another individual or group.
   • 1972, Donald Fagen, Walter Becker (lyrics and music), “Change of the Guard”, performed by Steely Dan:

     All the signs are right this time / You don't have to try so very hard / If you live in this world / You're feelin' the change of the guard

   • 1978, Bob Dylan (lyrics and music), “Changing of the Guards”, in Street-Legal:

     I've moved your mountains and marked your cards / But Eden is burning, either get ready for elimination / Or else your hearts must have the courage for the changing of the guards

   • 1989 November 20, S. C. Gwynne, “Running Low On Gas”, in Time‎^[1], archived from the original on 22 October 2010:

     At the same stressful time, Detroit's automakers will be going through a major changing of the guard: all three companies are expected to get new chief executives in the space of two years.

   • 2008 July 21, James Hibberd, “NBC finalizes its late shift”, in Hollywood Reporter‎^[2], retrieved 25 July 2010:

     NBC has set a date for the changing of the guard at "The Tonight Show." After 17 years, Jay Leno will sign off as host of the venerated late-night talker.

   • 2022 November 29, Ian Mitchelmore, “Wales put out of World Cup misery by England as sobering tournament must signal changing of the guard”, in WalesOnline‎^[3]:

     At long last, the referee's whistle was mercifully blown. It had been a sobering and underwhelming tournament, but one that must now fuel the future, with a changing of the guard needed ahead of next year's Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

Translations

ceremony in which soldiers change shifts

• German: Wachablösung (de) f, Wachablöse (de) f (Austria)

Further reading

• guard mounting on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• “changing of the guard”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.