laying siege
Encircling to conquer
Laying siege is surrounding a fortified position—a city, castle, or stronghold—to cut off supplies and force surrender.
The phrase extends to any sustained pressure campaign: Protesters have been laying siege to the embassy for weeks.
In casual use, it describes persistent pursuit: He's been laying siege to her heart for months.
- surroundEnclose on every side
- stormSevere atmospheric disturbance
- attritionGradual reduction through loss
- blockadeSealing off a place
- assaultViolent offensive act
encirclement · walled city · castle walls · trebuchet · investment · defender · surrender · coercion · envelopment · perseverance · battlefield · medieval warfare · battering ram · catapult · stronghold · beleaguer · trench warfare · fortification
laying siegestorming
Attacking with force
charging · blitzing · rushing · cavalry charge · lightning raid
laying siegeretreating
Moving back from advance
withdrawing · making peace · abandoning · falling back · breaking off
laying siegemaking peace
Ending hostilities between parties
negotiating · surrendering · capitulating · parleying · reconciling
laying, siege, lays, laid, layer, layers, layering, besiege, besieged