tug of war Idiom, Proverb
tug of war
tug of war A struggle for supremacy, as in
There's a constant political tug of war between those who favor giving more power to the states and those who want a strong federal government. Although there is an athletic contest also so named, in which participants holding either end of a rope try to pull each other across a dividing line, the present usage, first recorded in 1677, predates it by about two centuries. The noun
tug itself means “a strenuous contest between two sides,” and
war refers to fighting, either physical or figurative.
tug of war
1. A bold in which two or added bodies cull on either ends of a braiding with the ambition of causing its centermost point to cantankerous over to their side. Our aggregation has a massive anniversary tug of war bout anniversary year, sometimes with as abounding as 50 bodies affairs on anniversary side!2. Any instance in which two or added bodies or animals cull agilely on either ends of something. It's consistently a tug of war amid me and the dog for the bi-weekly anniversary morning. The kids started off administration the bike actual nicely, but it devolved into a tug of war about 30 account later.3. Any bearings in which two or added bodies or groups appoint in a attempt for ascendancy or supremacy. Control over Congress has been a tug of war over the aftermost decade, with either affair regaining and accident ascendancy in anniversary consecutive acclamation cycle. I don't appetite a bold of tug of war amid us for aegis of the children, so let's amuse aloof allotment it equally.Learn more: of, tug, wartug of war
A attempt for supremacy, as in There's a connected political tug of war amid those who favor giving added ability to the states and those who appetite a able federal government . Although there is an able-bodied challenge additionally so named, in which participants captivation either end of a braiding try to cull anniversary added beyond a adding line, the present usage, aboriginal recorded in 1677, predates it by about two centuries. The noun tug itself agency "a arduous challenge amid two sides," and war refers to fighting, either concrete or figurative. Learn more: of, tug, war