left flank

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "left flank" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in military contexts, sports, or discussions about strategy. An example is: "The troops advanced on the left flank to outmaneuver the enemy." Alternative expressions include "left side" and "left wing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They have a clearly defined left flank.

The Guardian

Another delivery from the visitors' left flank yielded an equaliser.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr. Nicodemus knelt by its arrow-straight left flank.

The New York Times

But Mr Davis needs to guard his left flank.

The Economist

Demarai Gray has Cyrus Christie in all sorts of bother down the Birmingham left flank.

BBC

McClellan's plan was to overwhelm the enemy's left flank.

Wikipedia

Once again, the Democratic Party found itself unprepared to respond to its vocal left flank.

Los Angeles Times

into the lower left flank of 6-week-old female athymic nude mice.

Cell Reports

A 40-year-old man presented with intermittent left flank pain for one month.

BMC Nephrology

Leaving about 40,000 men to contain Schwarzenberg, Napoleon marched against Blücher's left flank.

Britannica

Cole will not maraud constantly down the left flank.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing military strategy or formations, use "left flank" to denote the left side of an army or unit. Ensure the context clearly indicates a strategic or tactical setting.

Common error

Avoid using "left flank" to describe political leaning unless the context explicitly draws a parallel to strategic positioning. Using "left wing" is more appropriate for political discussions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "left flank" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject or object in a sentence. Examples from Ludwig show it describing the physical location in a military context (McClellan's plan was to overwhelm the enemy's left flank) and describing sports positioning.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "left flank" is a versatile noun phrase used to denote a strategic position, most commonly in military and sports contexts. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and very common, appearing frequently in news and media sources. While it can extend metaphorically to political discussions, "left wing" is the more conventional term. When using "left flank", ensure the context clearly indicates a strategic or tactical setting to avoid confusion. Alternatives like "left side" or "western edge" may be suitable depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

left side

This is a more general term referring to the left portion of something, lacking the specific military or strategic connotation of "left flank".

defensive left

Specifically used to describe the left side in defensive situations, highlighting the strategic posture.

offensive left

Describes the left side in offensive strategic situations, highlighting the strategic posture.

left wing

Often used in political contexts to refer to the left-leaning faction or ideology, it differs from the military or spatial sense of "left flank".

left boundary

Emphasizes the edge or border on the left, suitable when referring to physical limits rather than strategic positioning.

port side

This nautical term refers to the left side of a vessel when facing forward, applicable in maritime contexts but not generally interchangeable with "left flank".

leftmost position

Indicates the furthest point to the left, highlighting location rather than tactical role.

larboard

An archaic term for the left side of a ship, even more specialized and less frequently used than "port side".

left extremity

Highlights the outermost left part, focusing on the extreme edge rather than a broader area.

westward area

Describes the western part of something.

FAQs

How is "left flank" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "left flank" is used to describe the left side of a military formation, a sports team's alignment, or a political group. For example, "The general ordered an attack on the enemy's left flank" or "The soccer player dominated the left flank during the game".

What are some alternatives to "left flank" in a military context?

In a military context, you could use "left side", "western edge", or "leftmost position", depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "left flank" to describe a political stance?

While you can use "left flank" to refer to the leftward part of a political movement, it's more common to use the term "left wing". The term "left flank" can sometimes be used to emphasize a more vulnerable or exposed position within that movement.

What's the difference between "left flank" and "left wing"?

"Left flank" typically refers to a physical or strategic position, such as in military or sports contexts, while "left wing" primarily describes a political ideology or faction. Although "left flank" can metaphorically extend to politics, "left wing" is the more conventional term.