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- Act of war
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An act of war is a action that is either intended to start a war or that is interpreted as being sufficient cause for a war.
- All's fair in love and war
- This idiom is used to say that where there is conflict, people can be expected to behave in a more vicious way.
- Arrow in the quiver
- An arrow in the quiver is a strategy or option that could be used to achieve your objective.
- At daggers drawn
- If people are at daggers drawn, they are very angry and close to violence.
- Axe to grind
- If you have an axe to grind with someone or about something, you have a grievance, a resentment and you want to get revenge or sort it out.
In American English, it is 'ax'.
- Battle of nerves
- A battle of nerves is a situation where neither side in a conflict or dispute is willing to back down and is waiting for the other side to weaken.
('A war of nerves' is an alternative form.)
- Beat swords into ploughshares
- If people beat swords into ploughshares, they spend money on humanitarian purposes rather than weapons.
(The American English spelling is 'plowshares')
- Been in the wars
- (UK) If someone has been in the wars, they have been hurt or look as if they have been in a struggle.
- Bite the bullet
- If you have to bite the bullet, you have to accept or face something unpleasant because it cannot be avoided.
- Bring a knife to a gunfight
- If someone brings a knife to a gunfight, they are very badly prepared for something.
- Bury the hatchet
- If you bury the hatchet, you make peace with someone and stop arguing or fighting.
- Cross swords
- When people cross swords, they argue or dispute. This expression is used when some groups accuse each other for non-adherence to norms. Actually no sword is used but the tempo of the argument is high enough to cause worsening of the already bad situation. It is a tussle (vehement struggle without use of arms) between the parties to establish supremacy.
- Dodge the bullet
- If someone has dodged a bullet, they have successfully avoided a very serious problem.
- Don't mention the war
- This means that you shouldn't speak about things that could cause an argument or tension.
This idiom was used in a classic episode of the much-loved British comedy series Fawlty Towers. As a consequence if you use this phrase in Britain, listeners will understand you to be referring to Germans, or just start laughing.
- Double-edged sword
- If someone uses an argument that could both help them and harm them, then they are using a double-edged sword sword; it cuts both ways.
- Drop a bombshell
- If someone drops a bombshell, they announce something that changes a situation drastically and unexpectedly.
- Fight an uphill battle
- When you fight an uphill battle, you have to struggle against very unfavourable circumstances.
- Get the axe
- If you get the axe, you lose your job. ('Get the ax' is the American spelling.)
- Great guns
- If something or someone is going great guns, they are doing very well.
- In your sights
- If you have someone or something in your sights, they are your target to beat.
- Keep your powder dry
- If you keep your powder dry, you act cautiously so as not to damage your chances.
- Knight in shining armour
- A knight in shining armour is someone who saves you when you are in great trouble or danger.
- Long shot
- If something is a long shot, there is only a very small chance of success.
- Loose cannon
- A person who is very difficult to control and unpredictable is a loose cannon.
- Lower your sights
- If you lower your sights, you accept something that is less than you were hoping for.
- Mailed fist
- Someone who rules or controls something with a mailed fist is in absolute control and tolerates no dissent. A mailed fist in a velvet glove is used to describe someone who appears soft on the outside, but underneath is very hard.
'Iron fist' is an alternative form.
- More than one string to their bow
- A person who has more than one string to their bow has different talents or skills to fall back on.
- Open old wounds
- If you open old wounds, you revive a quarrel or problem that caused a lot of trouble in the past.
- Over the top
- If something is over the top, it is excessive or unnecessary. It refers to the moment a soldier leaves the trenches.
- Pull the trigger
- The person who pulls the trigger is the one who does the action that closes or finishes something.
- Put to the sword
- If someone is put to the sword, he or she is killed or executed.
- Pyrrhic victory
- A Pyrrhic victory is one that causes the victor to suffer so much to achieve it that it isn't worth winning.
- Quick on the trigger
- Someone who is quick on the trigger acts or responds quickly.
- Rank and file
- The rank and file are the ordinary members of a company, organisation, etc, excluding the managers and directors.
- Real trooper
- A real trooper is someone who will fight for what they believe in and doesn't give up easily.
- Ride shotgun
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If you ride shotgun, you protect or guard something when it is being transported.
- Run the gauntlet
- If somebody is being criticised harshly by a lot of people, they are said to run the gauntlet.
- Set your sights on
- If you set your sights on someone or something, it is your ambition to beat them or to achieve that goal.
- Shoot down in flames
- If someone demolishes your argument, it (and you) have been shot down in flames.
- Shoot from the hip
- Someone who shoots from the hip talks very directly or insensitively without thinking beforehand.
- Shot across the bow
- A shot across the bow is a warning to tell someone to stop doing something or face very serious consequences.
- Smoking gun
- A smoking gun is definitive proof of someone's guilt.
- Stick to your guns
- If you stick to your guns, you keep your position even though people attack or criticise you.
- Take the flak
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If you take the flak, you are strongly criticised for something.
('Take flak' is also used.)
- Two-edged sword
- If someone uses an argument that could both help them and harm them, then they are using a two-edged sword sword; it cuts both ways.
- War chest
- A war chest is a fund that can be used to finance a campaign like and election or for use in emergencies or unexpected times of difficulty.
- War of words
- A war of words is a bitter argument between people or organisations, etc.
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