saber rattling
Aggressive military threats
Saber rattling is a threatening display of military power, intended to intimidate without actual combat.
The image is of warriors clanging swords against shields to frighten enemies.
Now mostly figurative for aggressive posturing in politics or diplomacy: The president's speech was dismissed as saber rattling.
Also spelled sabre rattling.
Non-negotiable final terms
- arm-twistingForceful influence tactics
- pressureForce upon contact
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
- sanctionsPunitive international restrictions
deterrence · compulsion · threats · menacing · dominance · intimidation · bullying · fearmongering
Showy, aggressive boasting
- bellicosityInclination toward hostility
- belligerenceWarlike aggression
- bombastPretentious hollow language
- grandstandingPerforming to impress onlookers
braggadocio · rodomontade · puffery · bluffing · vaunting · boasting · stridency · huffiness
Collective military weapons
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
- war gamesSimulated combat training
- military exercisesOrganized armed forces drills
- naval exercisesMaritime military training operations
troop movements · mobilization · arms race · defense spending · weaponry · rearmament · military buildup · fortification
Presentation for viewing
- theatricsExaggerated dramatic behavior
- grandstandingPerforming to impress onlookers
- showmanshipSkill at impressive presentation
- spectacleVisually striking event
demonstration · peacocking · flourish · parade · pageantry · fanfare · exhibitionism · strutting
ultimatum
Non-negotiable final terms
- arm-twistingForceful influence tactics
- pressureForce upon contact
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
sanctions · deterrence · compulsion · threats · menacing · dominance · intimidation · bullying · fearmongering · strong-arming
chest-thumping
Showy, aggressive boasting
- bellicosityInclination toward hostility
- belligerenceWarlike aggression
- bombastPretentious hollow language
grandstanding · braggadocio · rodomontade · puffery · bluffing · vaunting · boasting · stridency · huffiness · pomposity
armament
Collective military weapons
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
- war gamesSimulated combat training
- military exercisesOrganized armed forces drills
naval exercises · troop movements · mobilization · arms race · defense spending · weaponry · rearmament · military buildup · fortification · readiness
display
Presentation for viewing
- theatricsExaggerated dramatic behavior
- grandstandingPerforming to impress onlookers
- showmanshipSkill at impressive presentation
spectacle · demonstration · peacocking · flourish · parade · pageantry · fanfare · exhibitionism · strutting · swaggering
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
- menacingthreatening, intimidating, menacing, ominous, sinister
- military posturingshow of force, posturing, brinkmanship, brinksmanship, military buildup
- political theaterkabuki, agitprop, grandstanding, political drama, posturing
- conflictclash, fight, war, battle, dispute
- coercionduress, coercing, compelling, threat, forcing
saber rattlingpeacemaking
Resolving conflicts through negotiation
olive branch · diplomacy · reconciliation · détente · rapprochement
saber rattlingde-escalation
Reducing conflict intensity
disarmament · stand-down · demilitarization · truce · ceasefire
saber, sabre, rattling, rattle, rattled, rattler, rattles, sabers, sabres