pincers movement

pincers movement

A military map shows a pincers movement encircling the enemy position.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • Military tactic: "pincers movement" (also known as "pincer movement") refers to a military maneuver in which two separate forces attack the flanks (sides) of an enemy formation simultaneously, aiming to encircle and trap the enemy, similar to the way a pair of pincers (like those of a crab or pliers) closes around an object.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • The general ordered a pincers movement to surround the enemy army. (A tactic using two attacking forces from the sides to encircle the opponent.)
    • The success of the pincers movement depended on the coordination of the two flanks. (The effectiveness of the encirclement relied on the two forces acting together.)
Advanced Usage

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

    • The troops executed a perfect pincers movement, trapping the enemy in a valley. (They successfully surrounded the enemy from both sides.)

  • "pincers movement in strategy": used metaphorically in business or politics to describe a coordinated two-pronged attack on a problem or opponent.

    • The company used a pincers movement in marketing, targeting both online and offline customers simultaneously. (They attacked the market from two directions at once.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Pincer movement (n): the more common spelling; identical in meaning to "pincers movement."

    • The pincer movement was a key strategy in the battle. (The same tactic of encirclement.)

  • Pincers (n, plural): a tool with two arms used for gripping, or the claws of a crab or lobster.

    • The crab's pincers snapped shut. (The claws closed like the military maneuver.)
Synonyms
  • Encirclement: the act of surrounding an enemy.
  • Double envelopment: a specific military term for attacking both flanks to surround the enemy.
Related Idioms

  • "Close the pincers": to complete the encirclement of an enemy or target.

    • The army closed the pincers around the city, cutting off all escape routes. (They finished surrounding the city.)

  • "Caught in a pincer": to be trapped or cornered by two opposing forces or problems.

    • The politician was caught in a pincer between public opinion and party loyalty. (He was trapped by two conflicting pressures.)