Join forces
Meaning
To combine efforts, resources, or capabilities with another person or group in order to achieve a shared objective.
Origin
The phrase "join forces" carries a distinctly martial echo, rooted deeply in the history of warfare and strategic alliances. "Forces" has long been a term for an assembled body of troops or military power itself. From ancient times, generals understood that individual units, no matter how skilled, became exponentially more powerful and effective when they literally “joined their forces” on the battlefield, presenting a united front against a common enemy. This imperative to combine strength for a shared, often critical, objective eventually broadened its scope, moving beyond the literal assembly of armies to encompass any collaborative effort where individuals or groups pool their talents and resources, mirroring that original, potent call to military unity.
Examples
- The two rival tech companies decided to join forces for the new venture, hoping to dominate the market.
- We'll need to join forces as a community if we want to complete this ambitious park renovation project by spring.