war of nerves

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war of nerves (plural wars of nerves)

1. (idiomatic) Warfare characterized by psychological manipulation, involving tactics intended to demoralize, frighten, and unnerve opponents in order to prompt surrender.
   • 1915, Liman von Sanders Pasha, Field Marshal of Turkish forces at Gallipoli, quoted in "Says Turks Will Soon Expel British," New York Times, 9 Aug., p. 2 (retrieved 24 Aug. 2010):

     "Our brave Ottoman soldiers are not easily frightened by noise, owing to their splendid nerves—and this is a war of nerves, a war in which strong nerves mean victory."

   • 1939, Sir John Anderson quoted in "Women's Service if War Comes," Glasgow Herald, 11 May (retrieved 24 Aug. 2010):

     "In the future, war will not merely be one of men and machines, it will be a war of wills and a war of nerves."

2. (idiomatic, by extension) A situation in which opposed parties refrain from direct conflict but maintain a tense, contentious relationship in which each uses annoyances or intimidating psychological tactics to attempt to dishearten and unnerve the other.
   • 1966 August 5, “Steel Industry Appears To Be Victor in Battle of Prices”, in The Free Lance-Star, USA, retrieved 24 Aug. 2010, page 1:

     A united steel industry appeared to have emerged the victor today in a war of nerves to raise prices on some of its products in the face of White House pressure to hold the price line.

   • 1983 July 18, “Small Town Host Big Time Chess Tourney”, in Daytona Beach Morning Journal, retrieved 24 Aug. 2010, page 8A:

     14 of America's best chess players are wielding kings, queens and their chessboard servants in a silent but brutal war. . . . "It's a mental war, it's a war of nerves, of logic, or reasoning, of being a good fighter," said Walter Browne.

   • 2009 May 27, Oleg Shchedrov, “Russia fears Korea conflict could go nuclear”, in Reuters India, retrieved 24 Aug. 2010:

     "We assume that a dangerous brinkmanship, a war of nerves, is under way, but it will not grow into a hot war," the official told Tass.

• psychological warfare

• “war of nerves”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.