brinkmanship

Also brinks·man·ship

[bringk-muhn-ship]

noun

1. the technique or practice of maneuvering a dangerous situation to the limits of tolerance or safety in order to secure the greatest advantage, especially by creating diplomatic crises.

brinkmanship

/ ˈbrɪŋkmənˌʃɪp /

noun

1. the art or practice of pressing a dangerous situation, esp in international affairs, to the limit of safety and peace in order to win an advantage from a threatening or tenacious foe

brinkmanship

1. The policy of a nation that pushes a dangerous situation to the limits of safety (the “brink”) before pulling back; an aggressive and adventurous foreign policy.

Word History and Origins

Origin of brinkmanship¹

brink + -manship, by analogy with sportsmanship, gamesmanship, etc.; coined by Adlai E.Stevenson in 1956, criticizing the foreign policy of John Foster Dulles

Example Sentences

He expected tough negotiations but soon realised the scale of the challenge with fighters demanding inflated purses, games of bluff and brinkmanship.

From BBC

This brinkmanship is inherently dangerous, and the president isn’t serious enough to handle the task, nor does he have anyone in his administration who has demonstrated they understand what they are doing.

From Salon

Senate in 2026, may be driving much of the legal brinkmanship.

From Salon

But the truth is Trump's brinkmanship and tariff hikes are pushing on pressure points that already exist within China's own struggling economy.

From BBC

Adding to the uncertainty is President Trump, who is known for his brinkmanship.

From BBC