scare tactics

American  

[skair tak-tiks] / ˈskɛər ˌtæk tɪks /

Also scare tactic

plural noun

1. a strategy to get someone to comply or surrender by making them afraid.

   Scare tactics won't keep kids from using drugs, says this social worker.

   In this telemarketing scam, perpetrators use the threat of a computer meltdown as a scare tactic to get victims to send money.

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Etymology

Origin of scare tactics

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

"This is exactly the risk right now here in Moldova," the prime minister says, justifying using such scare tactics.

From BBC

“Those programs were scare tactics, right?” said Sanho, who was a student activist when the government first invited “Officer Friendly or Not-So-Friendly” to come into the classroom.

From Salon

“It’s not just about warning people that conditions are right. Anyone can go online and fearmonger and create scare tactics. I’d never hype up a storm unless it needed to be hyped up.”

From Los Angeles Times

But Catherine Parsons, who oversees the Big Issue's specialist employability service Big Issue Recruit, said that "scare tactics" would only exacerbate Britain's worker shortages.

From BBC

The rhetoric has been far sharper among officials talking about lawsuits and “scare tactics.”

From Los Angeles Times