sabre-rattling

== English == === Alternative forms === saber-rattling (mostly US), saber rattling (mostly US), sabre rattling === Etymology === From the early 20th century, when an officer would threaten to draw his sabre. === Pronunciation === === Noun === sabre-rattling (countable and uncountable, plural sabre-rattlings) (idiomatic) A flamboyant display of military power as an implied threat that it might be used. (idiomatic, figuratively) Any threat, such as one company threatening another with a lawsuit. ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== gunboat diplomacy === Verb === sabre-rattling present participle and gerund of sabre-rattle === Adjective === sabre-rattling (comparative more sabre-rattling, superlative most sabre-rattling) Bellicose; threatening military action. === Related terms === === Anagrams === saber rattling, saber-rattling