a battle of wills

a battle of wills

A competition in which opposing sides are unrelenting in their attempts to achieve a particular outcome. Each refusing to compromise, the husband and wife entered into a battle of wills as they attempted to negotiate their divorce settlement.
See also: battle, of, will
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

a battle of wills

If an argument or conflict is a battle of wills, the person with the strongest beliefs or personality will win. It was a battle of wills, and Grace's was the stronger. All that was left was a mutual struggle, a battle of wills, which became totally exhausting.
See also: battle, of, will
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

a battle of ˈwills

a competition, an argument or a struggle where each side is very determined to win: Annie and Phil were engaged in a silent battle of wills, each refusing to leave.
See also: battle, of, will
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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