rattling one's sabre
Making war noises
Rattling one's sabre is making aggressive threats or displays of military power without necessarily intending to follow through.
The image is of a soldier shaking a sword in its scabbard to intimidate.
Politicians rattle their sabres when they threaten war or sanctions to pressure adversaries: The general's speech was just sabre-rattling—no one expects an actual invasion.
Also spelled saber.
- bluffingDeceiving about one's position
- empty threatsInsincere warnings of consequences
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- negotiation tacticsStrategic approaches during deals
- tough talkForceful, intimidating speech
bravado · coercion · chest-thumping · intimidation · power play · escalation · red line · ultimatum · deterrence · nuclear option · propaganda · gunboat diplomacy · battle cry · ego defense · psychological warfare · rhetoric · military parade · insecurity
rattling one's sabreburying the hatchet
Ending hostilities permanently
de-escalating · backing down · standing down · appeasing · building bridges
rattling one's sabregoing to war
following through · declaring war · pulling the trigger · crossing the Rubicon · putting one's money where one's mouth is
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