pincers attack

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • Military tactic: "pincers attack" (also known as pincer movement) refers to a military maneuver where two flanking forces converge on the enemy's center simultaneously, trapping them in a "pincer" formation. The term comes from the image of a crab's pincers closing on an object.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • The general ordered a pincers attack to surround the enemy army. (A tactic using two forces to encircle the opponent.)
    • The pincers attack failed because the left flank was too slow to advance. (The two converging forces did not coordinate properly.)
Advanced Usage

  • "to execute a pincers attack": to carry out this specific military maneuver.

    • The commander executed a classic pincers attack, cutting off the enemy's supply lines. (The tactic was performed successfully, isolating the enemy.)

  • "in a pincers attack formation": describing the arrangement of troops during the maneuver.

    • The soldiers moved in a pincers attack formation, closing in from both sides. (The troops were positioned to converge on the target.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Pincer movement (n): a synonym for pincers attack, often used interchangeably.

    • The pincer movement was a textbook example of encirclement warfare. (The tactic was perfectly executed.)

  • Pincer (n): a tool or claw with two parts that close together; also used metaphorically for the military tactic.

    • The crab's pincer is strong enough to crack a shell. (The animal's claw.)

  • Double envelopment (n): a more formal military term for a pincers attack, where both flanks of the enemy are attacked simultaneously.

    • The double envelopment at Cannae is a famous historical example. (The tactic used by Hannibal.)
Synonyms

  • Encirclement: the act of surrounding an enemy completely.

    • The encirclement of the city led to its surrender. (Surrounding the city to cut off escape and supplies.)

  • Flanking maneuver: an attack on the side of an enemy formation.

    • The flanking maneuver caught the enemy off guard. (An attack from the side, not necessarily a pincers attack.)
Related Idioms

  • Caught in a pincer: to be trapped between two opposing forces or pressures.

    • The company was caught in a pincer between rising costs and falling sales. (Stuck between two difficult situations.)

  • Close the pincers: to complete the encirclement of the enemy.

    • The general ordered his troops to close the pincers before nightfall. (Finalize the trapping maneuver.)