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.

---

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

The significance of the Chinese pincers movement finally occurred even to Menon.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

From Time Magazine Archive

Only Cyprus stood in the way of such an eastern pincers movement.

From Time Magazine Archive