nuke it from orbit
Total annihilation approach
A pop culture catchphrase meaning to destroy something completely rather than attempt a more measured solution.
From the 1986 film *Aliens*, where a character suggests nuking an alien-infested colony from orbit as "the only way to be sure." Used when advocating total elimination over partial fixes: The codebase is such a mess—let's just nuke it from orbit and start fresh.
- bombardmentSustained projectile assault
- alien invasionAttack from outer space
- airstrikeAircraft-delivered military attack
- obliterateDestroy all traces of
- annihilateDestroy completely, leaving nothing
total annihilation · kill it with fire · eradicate · exterminate · xenomorphs · incinerate · scorched earth · scorched earth policy · Ripley · game over man · vaporize · demolish · overkill · decimate · raze · drone warfare · purge · bunker buster
nuke it from orbitmeasured response
Controlled, proportional reply
surgical strike · proportional response · precision strike · gentle touch · kid gloves
nuke it from orbitturn the other cheek
Refuse to retaliate
look the other way · live and let live · leave well enough alone · walk away · let it go
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