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• saber-rattling
  saber-rattling

  noun

  a show or threat of military power, especially as used by a nation to impose its policies on other countries.
• saber rattling
  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.

saber-rattling

American  

[sey-ber-rat-ling] / ˈseɪ bərˌræt lɪŋ /

noun

1. a show or threat of military power, especially as used by a nation to impose its policies on other countries.

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saber rattling Idioms  

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of saber-rattling

First recorded in 1920–25; see origin at saber, rattle ¹, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

"Saber rattling is not new and does not take much brains," cried Khrushchev.

From Time Magazine Archive