sabre rattling
Threatening without fighting
Sabre rattling is making aggressive threats or displays of military power without intending to follow through—named for the theatrical gesture of shaking a sword in its scabbard.
The phrase describes posturing meant to intimidate: The border buildup was dismissed as sabre rattling.
Also spelled saber rattling.
Loud, empty boasting
- feintDeceptive mock attack
- charadeAbsurd or obvious pretense
- smokescreenConcealment through misdirection
- shamFraudulent imitation
ploy · gambit · ruse · pretense · posturing · empty threats · paper tiger · facade
Showy, aggressive boasting
- swaggerConfident, boastful manner
- machismoExcessive masculine pride
- grandstandingPerforming to impress onlookers
- boastingExcessive self-praise
bellicosity · belligerence · tough talk · war of words · jingoism · nationalism · hawkishness · warmongering
Progressive increase in intensity
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- tensionStretched or strained state
stalemate · sanctions · embargo · hardline · summit · negotiation · provocation · showdown
Pressured compliance through threats
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- menaceSource of potential harm
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- strong-armCoerce through intimidation
psychological warfare · deterrence · gunboat diplomacy · show of strength · dominance · aggression · terrorizing · compulsion
Collective military weapons
- mobilizationOrganizing for action
- troop deploymentStationing soldiers operationally
- military exerciseSimulated combat training operation
- missile testEvaluating a guided projectile
arms race · defense spending · combat readiness · war games · naval maneuvers · military parade · nuclear testing · rearmament
bluster
Loud, empty boasting
- feintDeceptive mock attack
- charadeAbsurd or obvious pretense
- smokescreenConcealment through misdirection
sham · ploy · gambit · ruse · pretense · posturing · empty threats · paper tiger · facade · show of force
chest-thumping
Showy, aggressive boasting
- swaggerConfident, boastful manner
- machismoExcessive masculine pride
- grandstandingPerforming to impress onlookers
boasting · bellicosity · belligerence · tough talk · war of words · jingoism · nationalism · hawkishness · warmongering · braggadocio
escalation
Progressive increase in intensity
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
tension · stalemate · sanctions · embargo · hardline · summit · negotiation · provocation · showdown · diplomatic pressure
coercion
Pressured compliance through threats
- bullyingAggressive repeated intimidation
- menaceSource of potential harm
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
strong-arm · psychological warfare · deterrence · gunboat diplomacy · show of strength · dominance · aggression · terrorizing · compulsion · hostility
armament
Collective military weapons
- mobilizationOrganizing for action
- troop deploymentStationing soldiers operationally
- military exerciseSimulated combat training operation
missile test · arms race · defense spending · combat readiness · war games · naval maneuvers · military parade · nuclear testing · rearmament · militarization
- geopoliticsbalance of power, bipolarity, bloc, blocs, brinkmanship
- coercionduress, coercing, compelling, threat, forcing
sabre rattlingdiplomacy
Negotiation between nations
peacemaking · peace talks · olive branch · détente · rapprochement
sabre rattlingmilitary action
Armed force by state
armed conflict · going to war · declaration of war · invasion · hot war
sabre rattlingrestraint
Control over impulses
de-escalation · quiet diplomacy · standing down · backing off · keeping one's powder dry
sabre, saber, sabres, sabers, rattle, rattles, rattled, rattling, rattler