turf war
Battle over domain
A turf war is a dispute over territory or domain.
The term comes from gang conflicts over neighborhood control but extends to any competitive struggle over spheres of influence: a turf war between departments, bureaucratic turf wars.
The underlying metaphor is that territory—literal or figurative—belongs to whoever can defend it.
Organized criminal group
- feudBitter ongoing rivalry
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- violenceHarmful physical force
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
shootout · hostilities · aggression · strife · confrontation · bloodshed · skirmish · battles
Struggle for supremacy
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- antagonismActive opposition or hostility
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- contentionAssertion or rivalry
hostility · struggle · friction · jealousy · resentment · vendetta · grudge · one-upmanship
Authority to direct
- powerEnergy transfer rate
- supremacyHighest rank or power
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- influencePower to affect others
command · reign · rule · protection racket · monopoly · muscle · intimidation · enforcement
Line marking a limit
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
- enclaveSurrounded distinct territory
- demarcationFormal boundary setting
- zoneBounded area designation
sector · domain · terrain · ground · neighborhood · block · street corner · hood
gang
Organized criminal group
retaliation · shootout · hostilities · aggression · strife · confrontation · bloodshed · skirmish · battles · warfare
competition
Struggle for supremacy
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- antagonismActive opposition or hostility
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
contention · hostility · struggle · friction · jealousy · resentment · vendetta · grudge · one-upmanship · infighting
control
Authority to direct
influence · command · reign · rule · protection racket · monopoly · muscle · intimidation · enforcement · takeover bid
boundary
Line marking a limit
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
- enclaveSurrounded distinct territory
- demarcationFormal boundary setting
zone · sector · domain · terrain · ground · neighborhood · block · street corner · hood · stomping ground
- bureaucracybureaucracy, bureaucrat, bureaucrats, red tape, civil service
- conflictclash, fight, battle, dispute, feud
- conflictsargument, fight, battle, dispute, conflict
- disputesargument, beef, bicker, clash, conflict
- fightsfight, brawl, scuffle, scrap, tussle
- power strugglesdominance, supremacy, takeover, overthrow, control
turf warcollaboration
Joint intellectual work
cooperation · partnership · alliance · peaceful coexistence · joint venture
turf wardivision of labor
Splitting tasks among workers
demarcation · spheres of influence · non-compete agreement · partition · separation of powers