brinkmanship

American  

[bringk-muhn-ship] / ˈbrɪŋk mənˌʃɪp /

Also brinksmanship

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.

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brinkmanship British  

/ 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

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brinkmanship Cultural  

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.

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Etymology

Origin of brinkmanship

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

Explanation

Brinkmanship is pushing a situation to the point of disaster without quite going over the edge. Brinkmanship is mainly a political policy. When you're on the brink of something, you're right on the edge. In politics, brinkmanship is an approach in which a country pushes a situation extremely close to a dangerous point. Many considered the Cold War between the U.S. and Russia an example of brinkmanship; the accumulation of so many deadly weapons could have led to disaster. Brinkmanship is a gamble: by coming close to a dangerous outcome, you hope to get an agreement or concession you wouldn't otherwise get.

Example Sentences

The 11th-hour brinkmanship shows the difficult road ahead for discussions between two longtime foes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Even before that meeting, the tide had turned for Paramount in a swell of power, politics and brinkmanship.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

All we can do is hope that the current crisis deescalates and that this brinkmanship, these tit-for-tat exchanges of fire between Israel or Iran or whomever else, stop.

From Salon • Apr. 17, 2024

"There was a degree of poker-playing and brinkmanship to the decision to move away," he said.

From BBC • Dec. 25, 2023

But after years of brinkmanship and chaos management by the Israeli leader, this feels different.

From New York Times • Jul. 24, 2023