sabre-rattling

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saber rattling

Words and actions that seek to convey anger, power, and intimidation, often in a military setting. The leaders of these countries need to quit their saber rattling before we end up at war.

saber rattling

A flamboyant display of military power; also, aggressive blustering. For example, There had been a great deal of saber rattling between the two nations but hostilities had never broken out . This term, originating about 1920 and alluding to an officer indicating he would draw his saber, at first referred to threatening military force but later was extended to more general use, as in Both candidates engaged in pre-debate saber rattling.

sabre-rattling

COMMON Sabre-rattling is aggressive behaviour in which threats are made, often of military action. Note: `Sabre' is spelled `saber' in American English. He accused the country of sabre-rattling and taking the first step in the trade war. Note: You can also say that someone rattles their sabre or that people rattle sabres. Still, it is good to see both sides talking, rather than rattling sabres at each other. Note: A sabre is a heavy sword with a curved blade that was used in the past by soldiers on horseback.

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

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References in periodicals archive ?

The maneuvers prompted Taiwan's chief security benefactor, the United States, to dispatch an armada into the strait to dissuade China from further saber-rattling.

China being pragmatic by not strong-arming Taiwan on unification: Ma

We have not heard this kind of nuclear saber-rattling in more than a decade, and it might herald the dawn of a new Cold War.

The case against war

The FBI was soon flaunting its "strong suspicions" of an "international link" to the bombing, while the Clinton administration was prepping for an early round of saber-rattling, promising "retaliation" against those responsible.

Boom!

(The Peace Victory Parade replaced the annual May Day parade, a saber-rattling fixture of the old Soviet regime.) In addition, the message continued, the idea of starting an exchange of Famous and Historic Trees--in which educational groves from the U.S.

Global ReLeaf casts historic shadow on Moscow peace parade

Huang ruled out the possibility of the government considering acceptance of the "1992 consensus," which Beijing claims serves as the political foundation for cross-Taiwan Strait interaction, despite unabated saber-rattling from China since Tsai of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party came to power.

Possible worst-case scenario assessed: Presidential Office

Although Yildirim expressed deep concern over the ongoing saber-rattling might snowball into major military action, he stressed that employment of chemical agents against the innocents and the children is a shameful act that cannot be forgiven.

Turkey seeks to avert escalation in Syria

'As things stand, North Korea's actions are a direct result of US saber-rattling and war mongering in the Korean peninsula,' Zarate said.

US hit for asking North Korea exclusion from Asian security forum

The IRGC commander downplayed the saber-rattling and threats of the enemy as an outcome of their incapability in overcoming Iran's defense prowess.

Commander: Iranian Nation's Resolve Consolidated by Enemy Pressures

Political sources said that the top military brass has received instructions not to make public comments that could be perceived as saber-rattling. The Israeli rhetoric about Syria's recent troop movements has also mellowed, with increasing references to it as "defensive" in nature.

Olmert Plays Down Syria Tensions

Indeed, Chavez's pronouncements are seen as just more saber-rattling.

Chavez: all bark, no bite?

She blames "the left" for mishandling the threat from North Korea's current nuclear saber-rattling but fails to mention that the nuclear weapons capability possessed by Kim Jong II arrived from Communist China.

Treason misses the mark: in Treason, Ann Coulter fires both barrels at stupid liberals and inept Democrats, but, like a poor marksman, she keeps missing the real target: a deeply entrenched conspiracy

China had been saber-rattling after Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui on July 9 said Taipei has redefined its relations with China as "state-to-state," triggering an accumulated 14% fall in stock prices last week.

Taiwan stocks rebound as gov't funds intervene

South Korea along with other regional powers have maintained a sharp critical language against the North Korean such "saber-rattling" recurring actions, however, Moscow has opted to maintain a largely diplomatic tone.

No threat from N. Korean missile -- Russia

Analysts expect some volatility in the stock markets, which could be spooked if Beijing engages in saber-rattling.