reconnaissance in force
- noun
- Specialized
:
reconocimiento en fuerza
- The general ordered a reconnaissance in force to gauge the enemy's positions before launching the main assault.
Examples
-
By conducting a reconnaissance in force, the commanders were able to gather crucial intelligence about enemy troop strength.
-
The army conducted a reconnaissance in force last night.
-
A reconnaissance in force revealed unexpected resistance along the front lines.
-
During the reconnaissance in force, they discovered enemy positions.
-
The general planned a reconnaissance in force to assess the enemy's fortifications before launching an attack.
-
To gather crucial intelligence, the unit executed a reconnaissance in force along the enemy's perimeter.
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A successful reconnaissance in force revealed the enemy's troop movements and allowed for better strategic planning.
Synonyms
103
5.8
A short trip to find information about an area, often before fighting
67
8.2
A search to find information about an area or enemy before an attack
56
3.7
A planned action by armed forces to achieve a goal
8
4.9
A secret activity by a government to gather information about an enemy or threat
5
6.8
A military trip to find out where the enemy is and what they are doing
1
3.9
Actions to collect and study information about threats for military or security services
A short trip to look around an area and gather information
How Thorough
- Specialized
- Specialized
526
6.2
- Specialized
67
8.2
46
3.4
253
3.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
reconnaissance + in + force
Knowing 'reconnaissance' (military surveying) and 'in force' (with military strength) lets a learner infer this is a scouting operation carried out by a substantial military force, so the basic sense is compositional. However, the specific tactical nuance — that it is done with combat strength to probe or test the enemy rather than just passive scouting — is a specialized, military collocation and not fully predictable, so it is only partially transparent to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Reconnaissance in force comes from the simple image that reconnaissance means scouting and it is done with real force. A strong group of soldiers makes a small attack to see how the enemy reacts, so it means 'to test the enemy and gather information using real fighting strength'.