army
When referring to a specific national military force, the word is often capitalized (e.g., "the British Army"). In its second meaning—referring to a large group of people—it is used metaphorically and does not imply that the people are soldiers.
💬Casual Conversation
🎬Tuesday afternoon, Karen is managing the neighborhood Facebook group while Eleanor is trying to use her phone.
Eleanor Smith
KAREN THE NEIGHBORS HAVE AN ARMY OF LAWN GUYS OUTSIDE. IS EVERYTHING OK?
Karen Smith
It's just the HOA doing a sweep. Honestly, they're just trying to shake us down.
💡
Eleanor uses 'army' to describe a large group of workers (Definition 2). Karen responds using the phrasal verb 'shake down', meaning to extort money or pressure someone into paying, reflecting her antagonistic relationship with local authorities.