pincers movement

American  

Or pincer movement

noun

1. a military maneuver in which both flanks of an enemy force are attacked with the aim of attaining complete encirclement.

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Etymology

Origin of pincers movement

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pincers movement

Troops advanced in a pincers movement, attacking from the southwest and northeast, reaching at times the two roads.

From New York Times ● Mar. 19, 2023

Any two adjoining drives can become a pincers movement.

From Time Magazine Archive

These two moves, undertaken together, would constitute a giant pincers movement on Chungking.

From Time Magazine Archive

A huge pincers movement threatened to put the entire Middle East in Axis hands.

From Time Magazine Archive

SHO1 called for a pincers movement against the U.S. landing forces in Leyte Gulf.

From Time Magazine Archive