charge of quarters

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Explanation of "Charge of Quarters"

Definition: "Charge of quarters" (often abbreviated as CQ) refers to a military duty where a soldier is responsible for managing administrative tasks and ensuring the safety and security of the unit during the evening or night hours, typically when most personnel are off duty.

Usage Instructions

• This term is mostly used in military contexts.
• It is important to remember that "charge of quarters" specifically refers to enlisted personnel, meaning those who have joined the military but are not officers.

Example Sentence

• "After a long day of training, Private Smith had to take the charge of quarters and monitor the barracks until morning."

Advanced Usage

• In more advanced discussions, you might encounter variations of duties associated with charge of quarters, such as "CQ duty," which refers specifically to the time spent performing this responsibility.

Word Variants

• Charge of quarters (noun): The specific role.
• CQ (abbreviation): Informal reference to the same role.
• CQ duty: Refers to the tasks or responsibilities during the charge of quarters.

Different Meanings

• Outside of military use, "charge" can refer to an accusation or a responsibility. "Quarters" can mean living space or accommodations. However, in the phrase "charge of quarters," it has a specific military meaning.

Synonyms

• Duty officer: Similar role but may not specifically refer to night hours.
• Watch commander: More commonly used in police or security contexts.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• There are not specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "charge of quarters," but you may hear phrases like "on duty" or "take charge," which share themes of responsibility.

Summary

"Charge of quarters" is a military term used to describe the duty of an enlisted soldier who handles administrative matters and ensures security during off-duty hours.

Academic

Noun

1. an enlisted man who handles his unit's administrative matters after hours