IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchDéfendre son pré carré
Meaning: To protect one's own territory or area of authority.
Literally: To defend one's square field
Example: “Chaque service défend son pré carré, et personne ne partage ses données.” — Every department protects its turf, and nobody shares their data.
English equivalent: To protect one's turf
Equivalents in other languages
English: protect one's turf
Origin: Vauban used pré carré for a compact, defensible frontier without awkward salients, arguing France should square off its borders rather than hold scattered outposts. The term moved from fortification to office politics.
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