Air cover

/ˈɛə ˌkʌv.ə/ noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    protection (of land or sea operations) by aircraft uncountable

    "But if the Government really wants our railway to reduce the level of its subsidy and improve value for taxpayers' money, then it must provide the political air cover to enable managers to get on and make the hard decisions that are needed... and then see them through."

  2. 2
    the use of military aircraft to provide protection against attack by enemy aircraft during ground or naval operations wordnet

Example

More examples

"But if the Government really wants our railway to reduce the level of its subsidy and improve value for taxpayers' money, then it must provide the political air cover to enable managers to get on and make the hard decisions that are needed... and then see them through."

Etymology

From air + cover.