Oh, pardon me, I forgot you're allowed to find someone seeking a path forward in life as dreadfully inconvenient, because where you were born grants you superiority, m'lord
The phrase is typically used to refer to babysitting, i.e., I'll make sure the kids don't leave or kill themselves. So the "down" serves a purpose in the present use, regardless of its applicability to historic situations.
"Holding the fort" just meant not letting enemies in
"Holding down the fort" also includes preventing things from getting out of hand
But I like the bouncy castle imagery as it's less mundane
Not if the x is implied, which it is.