power move
- noun
- Informal
- Many of his touches start closer, so Barnes is one dribble away from a power move to the basket.
- make a power move
- serious power moves
- pull off a power move
It's actually an interesting narcissistic power move for them to say I'm leaving.
- It's actually an interesting narcissistic power move for them to say I'm leaving.
- I mean, that is a strong power move.
- Almanzo throwing an extra M in Alonzo, it's a power move.
- It was an amazing thing that I've rarely gotten to do to consider fashion as a power move.
- It is a power move that's saying we control the legislature, so we will control you and it.
- If you do know more than them, and others do know that you do, it's a power move to keep your mouth shut and let the narcissistic person dig themselves into a hole.
- I mean, what a what a power move there.
- Got you turn up that's is that a power move or is that just a nerdy thing to do?
- Not being happy for them is actually a power move within yourself means you see it clearly.
- Busting with the boys, That is a power move.
Examples
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Jerry: The power move is to go unannounced.
Fiction book (1996) -
And going to prom with you, that's like the ultimate power move, all right?
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You know, that was a power move back in the day, you know.
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This is a power move.
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It's a power move, baby.
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You want to see a power move, Kitty?
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Don't you remember his power move?
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That kind of power move is mind-boggling.
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It is a power move that's saying we control the legislature, so we will control you and it.
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His decision to invest in new technology was a bold power move to gain an edge over competitors.
Synonyms
An action or decision to achieve a goal
A clever move to gain an advantage in a game or fight
A clever trick used to gain an advantage in talk or negotiation
A forceful action to gain control over other people
A bold and risky action that shows courage
How Bold
Surface Forms
Morphology
The sense is directly compositional: 'power' (influence/ability) modifying 'move' (deliberate action) yields a deliberate action intended to show or gain influence. This noun+noun combination follows a common and cross-linguistically familiar pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
The noun power move comes from the idea of a bold action: a strong move that shows power, like a sudden play in a game that changes who is winning. So it means 'to gain advantage or show strength'.