marching orders: Meaning and Definition of

march'ing or"ders

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. orders to begin a march or other troop movement.
  2. We're just sitting by the phone, awaiting our marching orders.
    1. orders to start out, move on, proceed, etc.:We're just sitting by the phone, awaiting our marching orders.
    2. notice of dismissal from a position or job; walking papers.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.