brinkmanship
Translation
brinkmanship
Examples
The negotiations involved a lot of political brinkmanship.
The negotiations involved a lot of political brinkmanship.
Grammar Patterns
political brinkmanship the practice of trying to achieve an advantageous outcome by pushing dangerous events to the brink of active conflict The senator was known for his political brinkmanship.
Similar Words
Synonyms: risk-taking, high-stakes strategy, confrontation
Etymology
A blend of 'brink' (edge) and '-manship' (skill in a particular activity), coined in the 1950s in the context of Cold War politics.
Memory Tips
Remember it as the skill (-manship) of taking a situation to the very brink of disaster to get what you want.