saber-rattling
[ sey-ber-rat-ling ]
/ ˈseɪ bərˌræt lɪŋ /
noun
a show or threat of military power, especially as used by a nation to impose its policies on other countries.
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What does "scattergood" mean?
a person who acts as though he or she knows everything and who dismisses the opinions, comments, or suggestions of others.
a person who spends possessions or money extravagantly or wastefully; spendthrift.
a well-intentioned but naive and often ineffectual social or political reformer.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Idioms and Phrases with saber-rattling
saber rattling
A flamboyant display of military power; also, aggressive blustering. For example, There had been a great deal of saber rattling between the two nations but hostilities had never broken out. This term, originating about 1920 and alluding to an officer indicating he would draw his saber, at first referred to threatening military force but later was extended to more general use, as in Both candidates engaged in pre-debate saber rattling.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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