hammer and anvil
Forge shaping pair
Hammer and anvil describes a military tactic where one force pins an enemy in place (the anvil) while another strikes decisively (the hammer).
The phrase extends to any situation where two coordinated pressures trap something between them.
The prosecutor used a hammer and anvil approach, threatening prison time while offering a plea deal.
In anatomy, the hammer and anvil are two of the three tiny bones in the middle ear that transmit sound vibrations.
Two-pronged tactical encirclement
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
- flankingAt the sides of
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- tacticsMethods to achieve goals
envelopment · crushing blow · trapped · squeeze · striking force · ambush · Rommel · desert warfare
Middle ear ossicle
- malleusHammer-shaped hearing bone
- stapesInner ear ossicle
- ossiclesMinute skeletal structures
- middle earSound-conducting body chamber
eardrum · cochlea · auditory · hearing · otology · vestibule · auditory canal · eustachian tube
pincer movement
Two-pronged tactical encirclement
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
- flankingAt the sides of
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
tactics · envelopment · crushing blow · trapped · squeeze · striking force · ambush · Rommel · desert warfare · double envelopment
incus
Middle ear ossicle
middle ear · eardrum · cochlea · auditory · hearing · otology · vestibule · auditory canal · eustachian tube · vibration
forge
Furnace for shaping metal
- blacksmithIron-shaping craftsperson
- metalworkShaped metal objects
- ironElement twenty-six
steel · tongs · furnace · smithy · quench · temper · strike · hot metal · sparks · bellows
- military tacticstactics, flanking, maneuver, ambush, battle formations
- cavalry tacticscavalry charge, cavalry charges, cavalry raids, flanking, flank attack
- pincer attackspincer movement, double envelopment, flanking, encirclement
- warfarebattle, combat, attack, war, armed conflict
- formationsline, circle, triangle, ring, spiral
- ancient armiesphalanx, legion, hoplites, heavy infantry, light infantry
hammer and anvilfeather
Bird's body covering
velvet glove · soft touch · kid gloves · whisper · caress
hammer and anvilneedle and thread
delicate · surgical precision · microsurgery · light · gossamer
hammer and anvilbreakout
Sudden escape from restraint
guerrilla tactics · hit and run · tactical withdrawal · fighting retreat · strategic withdrawal