sally

sally — noun

1. A swift attack made by soldiers who are trapped inside a fort or city, fighting

1.nounC1
Definition

A swift attack made by soldiers who are trapped inside a fort or city, fighting back against the forces that surround them.

Example

Under cover of darkness, the garrison launched a daring sally against the enemy camp.

collocation: launch a sally

The commander ordered a sally at dawn, catching the besieging troops completely off guard.

Common collocations
  • launch a sally
  • make a sally
  • daring sally
  • successful sally
  • order a sally
Synonyms
  • sortie

    The most direct military synonym; 'sortie' emphasizes a brief raid from a defensive position, while 'sally' focuses on the suddenness of breaking out.

  • foray

    Suggests a quick raid into enemy territory, but can also be used in non-military contexts.

  • assault

    A broader term for a violent attack; does not carry the specific meaning of escaping encirclement.

Usage Note

Often appears in historical or military writing. The noun commonly pairs with launch, make, or order.

Common Mistakes

The army prepared a sally for the parade.
The army prepared a sally against the enemy fortress.
A sally is a military attack, not a ceremonial event.

2. A clever and amusing comment made in conversation, often said quickly to enterta

2.nounC1
Definition

A clever and amusing comment made in conversation, often said quickly to entertain the people around you.

Example

Padma's sally about the burnt toast made everyone laugh at the breakfast table.

The minister deflected the question with a clever sally that amused the journalists.

collocation: clever sally

Common collocations
  • clever sally
  • quick sally
  • sharp sally
  • witty sally
Synonyms
  • quip

    A short, clever, often sarcastic remark; more common in everyday use than 'sally'.

  • witticism

    A specifically crafted clever phrase that shows intelligence; less spontaneous than a sally.

  • retort

    A sharp or angry reply to a criticism; a retort is defensive, while a sally is playful.

Usage Note

More literary than joke or quip. Often describes a remark that is both witty and timely — a sudden verbal 'rush' that mirrors the military sense figuratively.

Common Mistakes

He told a funny sally at the meeting.
He made a witty sally at the meeting.
A sally is a type of remark you 'make', not a story you 'tell'.

3. A short trip or outing, especially one that takes you away from the usual path o

3.nounC1
Definition

A short trip or outing, especially one that takes you away from the usual path or familiar places.

Example

On Sunday the group took a sally through the old forest trails near the village.

collocation: sally through [place]

Yumi's sally to the night market introduced her to dishes she had never tasted.

Common collocations
  • short sally
  • weekend sally
  • afternoon sally
  • sally to [place]
Synonyms
  • jaunt

    A short journey for pleasure; very close in meaning, with a slightly more playful tone than 'sally'.

  • excursion

    A longer or more organized trip; less spontaneous than a sally.

  • outing

    An everyday word for a short trip; less literary than 'sally'.

Usage Note

Literary or journalistic in tone. Typically describes a brief, spontaneous outing rather than a planned vacation.

Common Mistakes

We booked a sally to Japan for two weeks.
We took a weekend sally to the nearby hills.
A sally is a short, informal trip, not a long planned holiday.

sally — verb

Word family

  • sallied
    verbC1
  • sallying
    verbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All four words describe clever or funny remarks, but they differ in tone and situation. A sally is a sudden, spirited burst of wit — the word carries a sense of liveliness and surprise, like a quick verbal dash. A quip is shorter, often sarcastic or teasing, and feels more casual in conversation. A witticism is a carefully formed clever phrase that highlights intelligence or wordplay; it sounds more deliberate and less spontaneous than a sally. A retort is a sharp comeback made in response to a criticism or challenge, often carrying an edge of irritation or defensiveness. For example, if someone spills a drink, a sally might lighten the mood ('At least the floor finally got a wash!'); a quip would be snappier ('Nice aim.'); a retort would be sharper ('Well, you bumped my elbow.'); and a witticism would reframe the situation cleverly ('Gravity and I disagreed on the glass's destination.').

sallyquipwitticismretort

Common collocations

Nouns

  • troops
  • garrison
  • fortress
  • siege
  • commander

Adverbs

  • forth
  • out

Phrases

  • sally forth
  • sally out
  • launch a sally
  • make a sally

Prepositions

  • from
  • through
  • into
  • against

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Sally comes from the French word 'saillie' (a rushing forth), which traces back to Latin 'salire' meaning to leap or spring. The military sense — soldiers leaping out from a fort to attack — appeared in English around the 1500s. By the 1600s, the word had taken on a figurative meaning: a witty remark that 'leaps out' suddenly in conversation. The travel sense (a short outing) developed in the 1700s, keeping the core idea of a quick departure from a familiar place.