war of nerves
2
7.8
- noun
:
guerra psicológica
- In the championship game, the team's coach employed a war of nerves against their opponents, using mind games to throw them off their game.
Examples
-
The divorce was more of a war of nerves than anything else, unless her ex was really so clueless that he didn't realize what a careful record-keeper she is.
Blog text (20) -
Indeed, they were confident that they could succeed because they believed the Japanese were particularly flawed and susceptible to a war of nerves.
Academic text (2010) -
The war inside the Namibian frontier was thus a war of nerves and a war of attrition.
Academic text (1993) -
By choosing to go with Bithras, I had become part of a monumental war of nerves, and it seemed clear we were losing.
Fiction book (1993) -
Francois is just the type of aggressive sociopath... ...who can wage, and win, a war of nerves.
-
We're in a war of nerves, Casseia, and we might enjoy—mutually—a place of retreat... from the war. "I'd like to read the messages," I said.
Fiction book (1993) -
While Kennedy and Khrushchev engaged in a war of nerves that brought the world the closest it has ever come to a nuclear exchange, the president knew little about his counterpart's intentions—messages between Moscow and Washington could take half a day to deliver.
Blog text (11) -
The tense standoff between the two rival countries became a war of nerves as both sides tried to intimidate each other without using violence.
-
During the lengthy negotiations, both parties engaged in a war of nerves, attempting to outlast each other to gain a favorable deal.
Synonyms
15
7.2
A trick people use to confuse or control someone to gain an advantage
8
7.0
To use false information, threats, and messages to make an enemy feel afraid and weak in war and politics
Antonyms
How Tense
- Specialized
8
7.0
2
7.8
90
6.2
- Formal
∞
2.0
∞
1.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase transparently combines 'war' (a struggle or campaign) with 'nerves' (feelings of nervousness), so its meaning — a struggle conducted via psychological pressure — can be directly inferred from the parts. This noun-of-noun construction and the common metaphorical use of 'war' to mean a contest is cross-linguistically familiar, making it accessible to a B1 learner who knows the constituents.
Etymology
War of nerves paints a picture of a battle fought not with weapons but by attacking the other side's nerves, their courage and calm. That's why it means a long fight where each side uses pressure, threats, or tricks to make the other side 'give up'.