Pac-Man strategy
- noun
- /ˈpækˌmæn ˈstrætədʒi/
- Jargon
:
estrategia Pac-Man
- In a surprising move, the small tech firm used a Pac-Man strategy and tried to acquire its much larger adversary.
Examples
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Analysts described the Pac-Man strategy as risky but potentially effective in defending against unwanted takeovers.
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The board adopted a Pac-Man strategy to fight off the hostile bid from their rival.
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The Pac-Man strategy is effective.
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Many companies use Pac-Man strategies to protect themselves from acquisitions.
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In a bold move, the company implemented a Pac-Man strategy by attempting to take over its would-be acquirer.
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The Pac-Man strategy allowed the target firm to counter the hostile takeover by launching a bid for the rival.
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Executives explained the Pac-Man strategy as a way to regain control during a takeover attempt.
Synonyms
4
6.3
A forceful action to gain control over other people
3
6.6
A bold action to show strength or gain advantage over others
A plan a company uses to stop another company from taking control
Antonyms
- Specialized
12
5.8
One company buys another company even though its managers say no
Surface Forms
Morphology
Pac-Man + strategy
Although 'strategy' is transparent, the referent 'Pac-Man' is a culture-specific proper name whose game-related imagery (target 'eating' the acquirer) and specialized corporate metaphor are not predictable from the words alone. A B1 learner who knows the constituents would not be able to infer the takeover-counterattack meaning without prior exposure or background knowledge, so the expression is idiomatic and opaque.
Etymology
Pac-Man strategy comes from the old video game Pac-Man, where the yellow player eats dots and, after a power dot, turns and eats the ghosts that were chasing him. So a company using a Pac-Man strategy is like that chased player fighting back by trying to 'take over' the bigger buyer, which explains the name.