saber-rattling
[ sey-ber-rat-ling ]
/ ˈseɪ bərˌræt lɪŋ /
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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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“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for saber-rattling
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
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.