brinkmanship

/'briɳkmənʃip/
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Thân thiện
brinkmanship

A diplomat engages in brinkmanship during a tense negotiation.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • The practice of pushing a dangerous situation or confrontation to the very edge of disaster in order to achieve the most favorable outcome for oneself. It is a strategy, often in politics or diplomacy, where a party deliberately creates and escalates a risky situation, forcing an opponent to back down to avoid catastrophe.
Examples of Usage
  • Noun:
    • The Cold War was characterized by nuclear brinkmanship between the superpowers.
    • The CEO's aggressive brinkmanship during the merger talks nearly caused the deal to collapse.
    • Critics accused the government of reckless brinkmanship in the trade negotiations.
Advanced Usage
  • "To engage in brinkmanship": to actively employ this risky strategy.
    • The general was known for engaging in military brinkmanship to test his adversaries.
  • "A game of brinkmanship": a situation or series of actions defined by this strategy.
    • The prolonged standoff was essentially a high-stakes game of brinkmanship.
Variants and Related Words
  • Brink (n): the extreme edge of land before a steep slope or a body of water; a point at which something, typically something unwelcome, is about to happen.
    • The company was on the brink of bankruptcy.
  • -manship suffix: A suffix forming nouns denoting skill in a particular activity (e.g., , ).
Synonyms
  • Gambit: a device, action, or opening remark, typically one entailing a degree of risk, calculated to gain an advantage.
  • High-risk strategy: a plan of action involving a significant chance of serious loss or failure.
  • Dare: a challenge, often involving defiance or boldness.
Related Phrases
  • "Playing chicken": (informal idiom) a contest in which the participants risk disaster by maintaining a dangerous course of action until one loses nerve and gives in.
    • The labor dispute turned into a game of chicken, with both sides refusing to compromise.
  • "Toe-to-toe confrontation": a direct and fierce confrontation where neither side gives ground easily, often implying a risky escalation.
brinkmanship

A diplomat engages in brinkmanship during a tense negotiation.

Noun
  1. the policy of pushing a dangerous situation to the brink of disaster (to the limits of safety)