cheval de bataille
Americannoun
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a horse used in battle; charger.
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a favorite topic of discussion, argument, etc.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As our cheval de bataille stands ready saddled and bridled for us just now, we must indulge ourselves in mounting him for a brief excursion.
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 12, No. 69, July, 1863 by Various
That sentence was Mary's cheval de bataille in her discussions with James, who could never be alone with her without broaching the subject.
From Dynevor Terrace: or, the clue of life — Volume 1 by Yonge, Charlotte Mary
I doubt if Homer will be a cheval de bataille sufficiently strong to carry you safely through the intricacies of this enterprise.'
From The Life of William Ewart Gladstone, Vol. 1 (of 3) 1809-1859 by Morley, John
His forte is the foible; his cheval de bataille, the hobby-horse.
From The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Sterne, Laurence
Once that I had mastered their difficulties, the piece became my cheval de bataille, and whenever I performed it, accompanied by one of the two composers, I invariably made a....
From Fragments of an Autobiography by Moscheles, Felix
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
