Jump to:

• saber-rattling
  saber-rattling

  noun

  a show or threat of military power, especially as used by a nation to impose its policies on other countries.
• 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.

saber-rattling

American  

[sey-ber-rat-ling] / ˈseɪ bərˌræt lɪŋ /

noun

1. a show or threat of military power, especially as used by a nation to impose its policies on other countries.

---

saber rattling Idioms  

1. 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.

---

Etymology

Origin of saber-rattling

First recorded in 1920–25; see origin at saber, rattle ¹, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Tinubu, Nigeria’s bespectacled 73-year-old leader, was shocked by the saber-rattling from one of his country’s most important partners.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 9, 2025

Whether it is saber-rattling or not, the unveiling of these retaliatory tools reinforces the countries’ desire to build up their self-reliance.

From Barron's • Oct. 24, 2025

But it’s fair to say that Reagan never indulged in outright name-calling or hateful invective, stressed his desire for negotiation over confrontation and left the nuclear saber-rattling to subordinates.

From Salon • Sep. 28, 2025

And, overall, the tone is much more contentious than during the West Coast negotiations, where there was relatively little saber-rattling and few people on either side viewed a strike as a serious threat.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 26, 2024

For all her resolute saber-rattling in these years, Germany found herself checkmated in almost every move.

From A History of Sea Power by Stevens, William Oliver