power plays
Calculated dominance moves
Power plays are aggressive maneuvers to gain advantage or control, typically in politics or business.
The term comes from hockey, where a power play occurs when one team has more players on the ice due to the opponent's penalty—a temporary advantage to be exploited.
In broader use, power plays involve leveraging position, resources, or circumstances to dominate: The merger was a power play to corner the market.
The phrase often implies calculation or ruthlessness.
- maneuveringSkillful directional control
- political maneuveringStrategic power-seeking tactics
- backroom dealsSecret unofficial negotiations
- smoke-filled roomsSecretive political decision-making venues
- behind closed doorsIn private, unobserved
palace intrigue · one-upmanship · intimidation · strategizing · tactics · clout · pulling strings · faceoffs · penalty box · ice time · subjugation · Machiavellian · coups · manipulation · authoritarianism · leverage · hegemony · influence
- strategystrategy, grand strategy, tactics, tactic, tactical
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
- court intrigueintrigue, plots, schemes, plotting, conspiracy
- manipulationgaslighting, guilt tripping, blame-shifting, brainwashing, guilt trip
- office politicsoffice politics, backstabbing, favoritism, nepotism, politicking
- sports statsstats, most points, yards, most goals, box scores
power playscollaboration
Joint intellectual work
compromise · consensus-building · diplomatic engagement · fair dealing · open communication
power playscapitulation
Complete yielding to demands
submission · deference · acquiescence · yielding · backing down
power playsmeritocracy
Advancement through demonstrated ability
teamwork · fair play · servant leadership · professional integrity
play, power, powerful, empower, powerless, powers, powerfully, horsepower, empowered