guard
Loading your saved state.
guard
A selected, often especially representative military unit that frequently serves to protect a ruler or perform ceremonial duties.
Die königliche Garde marschierte vor dem Palast auf.
The royal guard marched in front of the palace.
guard
Figuratively, a group of established, influential, or long-standing people in a particular field, such as art, politics, or science. Often used in the expression 'die alte Garde' (the old guard).
Die alte Garde der Schauspieler wehrt sich gegen die neuen Trends im Theater.
The old guard of actors is resisting the new trends in theater.
dance guard
In Carnival, a uniformed dance group that performs at sessions and parades.
Die Garde des Karnevalsvereins trainiert das ganze Jahr für ihre Auftritte.
The Carnival club's dance guard trains all year for its performances.
'Die Garde' (the guard) always refers to a group of people or a unit, never to a single person. A single person standing guard is 'die Wache' (the guard/watch) or 'der Wächter' (the guard/keeper).
Die Garde bestand aus zwanzig Soldaten.
The guard consisted of twenty soldiers.
In a military context, 'Garde' (guard) is often combined with verbs like 'marschieren' (to march), 'aufziehen' (to parade/mount the guard), or 'Wache stehen' (to stand guard). Typical adjectives are 'königlich' (royal) or 'päpstlich' (papal).
Touristen beobachten gern, wie die königliche Garde aufzieht.
Tourists like to watch the royal guard parade.
The figurative meaning is almost always recognizable from the fixed expression 'die alte Garde' (the old guard). It describes an established, often conservative group of people in a particular field such as politics or art.
Die alte Garde der Partei stimmte gegen den Vorschlag.
The party's old guard voted against the proposal.
This meaning is specific to German Carnival (also called 'Fasching' or 'Fastnacht'). Here, a 'Garde' (dance guard) is a uniformed group that performs traditional dances.
Meine Tochter tanzt in der Garde des lokalen Karnevalsvereins.
My daughter dances in the local Carnival club's dance guard.
elite
Elite and Garde can both refer to an influential group. Elite emphasizes the group’s outstanding status; Garde, especially in “alte Garde,” focuses more on the fact that its members have long belonged to an established circle.
Diese langjährigen Politiker gehören zur alten Garde des Landes.
These long-serving politicians belong to the country’s old guard.
Diese mächtigen Politiker gehören zur Elite des Landes.
These powerful politicians belong to the country’s elite.
