politics

• Bob's your uncle

  This phrase is used to declare that a task will be easily accomplished or that a successful outcome is guaranteed once a final, simple step is taken.

• Off the record

  Information shared "off the record" is confidential and not to be publicly quoted or attributed.

• Take a Stand

  To assert one's strong opinion or position on an issue, especially when it involves potential risk or opposition.

• Red tape

  Excessive bureaucracy and rigid adherence to official rules and formalities, often leading to delays and frustration.

• Charm Offensive

  A concerted and strategic effort to win over opponents or the public through a display of charm, friendliness, and flattering attention.

• Take the Heat

  To endure blame, criticism, or negative consequences, often to protect others or in a challenging situation.

• A slippery slope

  This phrase describes a course of action that, though seemingly innocent, will inevitably lead to a disastrous or undesirable outcome.

• Fall on your sword

  To take responsibility for a failure or wrongdoing, often by resigning or accepting severe consequences, as an act of honor or necessity.

• Jump on the bandwagon

  To join a popular activity, trend, or cause, often for personal gain, because it is currently fashionable or appears to be successful.

• Lay down the law

  To state rules or give orders in a firm and authoritative manner that must be obeyed.

• Level playing field

  A situation in which everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed without any unfair advantages or disadvantages.

• No strings attached

  Something given or offered without any hidden conditions, obligations, or future demands.

• On the fence

  To be undecided or neutral about a choice or opinion, reluctant to commit to either side.

• Pay lip service

  To express insincere loyalty, respect, or support for something without genuine commitment or action.

• Stay the course

  To continue with a plan, decision, or action despite difficulties or opposition.

• The buck stops here

  This phrase signifies that the person using it accepts ultimate and final responsibility for a situation and will not delegate or shift blame.

• The die is cast

  An irrevocable decision has been made, and events are now set in motion with no possibility of turning back.

• Throw someone under the bus

  To betray someone by sacrificing them or shifting blame onto them to protect oneself or gain an advantage.

• Up in arms

  To be very angry and protesting strongly about something.

• Himalayan blunder

  An error of colossal magnitude, signifying a huge and catastrophic mistake with far-reaching consequences.

• To kowtow

  To show extreme deference or submission, often by bowing or acting in a servile manner.

• Paper tiger

  A paper tiger refers to something or someone that appears powerful and threatening but is actually weak and ineffectual.

• Fifth column

  A group of people within a country or organization who are secretly working to aid an enemy or opposing force from within.

• Loose lips sink ships

  Carelessly sharing secret or sensitive information can lead to severe and damaging consequences.

• Careless talk costs lives

  Disclosing sensitive information, even inadvertently, can have severe and deadly consequences, particularly in wartime.

• On the home front

  Referring to the domestic affairs, conditions, or civilian population of a country, often in contrast to military operations abroad or external challenges.

• Keep calm and carry on

  To remain composed and continue with one's tasks despite difficulties, stress, or a challenging situation.

• Phoney War

  The Phoney War describes the initial phase of World War II, marked by an absence of significant military combat after the declarations of war.

• No man's land

  An area of land that is not owned or controlled by anyone, or is disputed between parties, often characterized by its desolation or danger.

• Iron Curtain

  The Iron Curtain was a political boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1991.

• Donkeys leading lions

  It describes a situation where the foolish or incompetent are in positions of authority, directing those who are truly capable and strong.

• Run something up the flagpole

  To propose an idea or plan informally to gauge initial reactions and feedback from a group or public.

• A sacred cow

  Something or someone that is exempt from criticism, questioning, or change, often due to tradition, sentiment, or perceived inviolability.

• A lame duck

  A person or group, especially an elected official, whose power or effectiveness is diminished because their term is ending or a successor has already been chosen.

• Set one's face against

  To firmly resolve to oppose or show strong disapproval towards something or someone.

• The winds of change

  Powerful, unseen forces that bring about significant societal, political, or personal transformations.

• Lightning rod

  A person or thing that intentionally or unintentionally attracts and absorbs blame, criticism, or negative attention, thereby protecting others or diverting it from a broader issue.

• A storm of protest

  A widespread and forceful expression of strong public disagreement or opposition.

• Sunshine patriot

  A person who supports a cause or country only when it is convenient, popular, or without risk, but abandons it during difficult times.

• Arms race

  An arms race is a competitive military buildup between two or more states, characterized by a rapid increase in the quantity or quality of their weaponry.

• Nuclear option

  A "nuclear option" refers to a drastic, last-resort measure taken when all other options have failed, often with severe and far-reaching consequences.

• Doomsday clock

  The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic clock maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, representing how close humanity is to a global catastrophe, with midnight signifying utter disaster.

• Cold War

  A state of political and military tension after World War II between the Western Bloc (led by the United States) and the Eastern Bloc (led by the Soviet Union), characterized by an arms race, proxy wars, and ideological conflict rather than direct combat between the superpowers.

• Fallout

  Fallout refers to the adverse consequences or long-term effects resulting from a significant event or action.

• Launch an initiative

  To formally begin a new plan, project, or course of action, often with a public announcement.

• Mutually assured destruction

  A military theory in which a full-scale use of nuclear weapons by two opposing sides would result in the complete annihilation of both the attacker and the defender.

• Race for space

  The "Race for space" describes the intense Cold War competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to achieve superiority in space exploration and technology.

• Red scare

  A "Red scare" denotes a period of intense public fear and paranoia concerning the perceived threat of communism or radical left-wing ideologies, often resulting in widespread suspicion, suppression of dissent, and political repression.

• Sputnik moment

  A moment of crisis or unexpected challenge that galvanizes a society or organization into a period of rapid innovation and progress.

• Catch 22

  A paradoxical situation from which an individual cannot escape because of contradictory rules.

• Curry favour

  To seek to gain approval or special treatment from someone, especially a person in authority, through flattery, subservience, or insincere praise.

• Amplify the message

  To make a communication, idea, or concept more prominent, widely understood, or impactful.

• Echo chamber

  An echo chamber is a situation in which beliefs are amplified or reinforced by communication and repetition inside a closed system and insulated from rebuttal.

• Dominate the airwaves

  To control or command the vast majority of media attention or broadcasting channels, often making it difficult for opposing views or content to be heard.

• Hear, hear!

  It is an exclamation used to show strong agreement, approval, or support for what someone has just said, often in a public or formal setting.

• Grass roots

  The most basic level of an organization or activity, made up of ordinary people rather than leaders.

• Play to the gallery

  To perform actions or speak in a way primarily designed to impress or win the approval of a crowd rather than for genuine or substantive reasons.

• Play to the crowd

  To tailor one's actions, words, or performance specifically to appeal to popular opinion or gain public approval, often insincerely.

• Stack the deck

  To unfairly arrange circumstances, facts, or evidence to ensure a particular outcome, usually in one's own favor.

• New deal

  A series of economic programs and reforms implemented in the United States during the Great Depression, or more broadly, any fresh approach or arrangement offered to resolve a difficult situation.

• Loaded dice

  A situation or system in which the odds are unfairly manipulated to ensure a particular outcome, making true fairness impossible.

• Whistle a different tune

  To change one's opinion, attitude, or demands, often because circumstances have altered or one has been compelled to do so.

• A rising tide lifts all boats

  This proverb suggests that overall improvements in an economy or society benefit everyone, even those who may not be directly involved in the growth.

• Beat swords into plowshares

  To transform instruments of war into tools for peaceful, productive labor, symbolizing a transition from conflict to peace and prosperity.

• Render unto Caesar

  This phrase advises one to fulfill their civic obligations, especially paying taxes to the government, while still maintaining their spiritual duties.

• Call the shots

  To be in a position of authority and make all the important decisions.

• Witch hunt

  A campaign directed against a particular group of people, often those holding unorthodox views, who are accused of subversion or disloyalty, with insufficient evidence.

• freedom of the press

  The fundamental right of journalists and news organizations to report and publish information and opinions without censorship or interference from the government.

• Beat the drum for something

  To advocate strongly and publicly for something, often with enthusiasm, in order to gain support or attention.

• Fiddle while Rome burns

  To engage in trivial activities or ignore serious problems during a time of crisis or emergency.

• Grandstanding

  To behave in an overly showy or ostentatious way, primarily to attract attention or admiration from an audience.

• To throw to the lions

  To sacrifice someone by exposing them to extreme danger, hostile criticism, or a devastating situation, often for one's own benefit.

• The fabric of society

  This phrase refers to the fundamental structure, interconnected elements, and essential components that collectively hold a community or civilization together.

• To stand pat

  To maintain one's current position, decision, or course of action without making any changes, especially when under pressure to do otherwise.

• Pull strings

  To use one's personal influence or connections, often discreetly, to achieve a particular outcome or advantage.

• Sweep something under the rug

  To conceal a problem, mistake, or unpleasant situation in an attempt to ignore or avoid addressing it publicly.

• Tighten the screws

  To apply greater pressure, control, or discipline on someone or something in order to achieve a desired outcome or compel compliance.

• Sword of Damocles

  A constant and impending peril that hangs over someone, especially those in positions of power or good fortune.

• Crossing the Rubicon

  To make an irreversible decision or take a decisive step from which there is no turning back.

• Play to the cheap seats

  To appeal to the broadest, least sophisticated audience by employing simplistic, sensational, or obvious tactics.

• Forty acres and a mule

  This phrase represents a broken promise of land redistribution and economic independence for newly freed enslaved people in the American South after the Civil War.

• Uncle Tom

  A derogatory term for a Black person perceived as being overly servile or deferential to white people, especially one who betrays their own race's interests for personal gain or acceptance.

• Token Black

  A Black person included in a group, organization, or media primarily for the sake of appearing diverse, without genuine commitment to diversity or their meaningful inclusion.

• Separate but equal

  This legal doctrine refers to a system where racial segregation is permitted as long as the facilities provided for each race are claimed to be of equal quality.

• A place in the sun

  A position of power, prosperity, or distinction in society or the world.

• Flog a dead horse

  To waste effort on a lost cause or a matter that has already been decided and cannot be revived.

• To sow dissent

  To deliberately introduce ideas or arguments that cause disagreement, discord, or rebellion within a group.

• Feather one's nest

  To enrich oneself, especially by taking advantage of one's position or opportunities, often selfishly or dishonestly.

• Feather one's own nest

  To enrich oneself, often by taking advantage of a position or opportunity, without regard for others.

• Fat cat

  A wealthy, privileged, and often powerful person perceived as having gained excessive profits or influence, especially at the expense of others.

• Kangaroo court

  A kangaroo court is an unofficial judicial proceeding that disregards legal procedures, often producing a biased or predetermined verdict.

• On the record

  Information or a statement that is officially stated, publicly acknowledged, and can be attributed to the source.

• Green light

  Permission or authorization to proceed with something.

• True blue

  Displaying unwavering loyalty and steadfast adherence to principles, a cause, or a person.

• Yellow journalism

  Yellow journalism refers to a style of newspaper reporting that emphasizes sensationalism over factual accuracy to attract readers and sell copies.

• Throw one's hat in the ring

  To announce one's intention to run for office, enter a competition, or take on a challenge.

• Apply a plaster to a gaping wound

  To offer a wholly inadequate or superficial solution to a deep-seated and severe problem.

• Even playing field

  A situation or environment where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed, with no one having an unfair advantage.

• Eyes on the prize

  To maintain unwavering focus on a desired ultimate goal or objective, despite any distractions or difficulties encountered along the way.

• Front runner

  The leading candidate or competitor in a race, competition, or election, who is most likely to win.

• First past the post

  This electoral system declares the candidate with the most votes in a constituency as the winner, even if they do not achieve an absolute majority.

• Put a spin on something

  To present information or an event in a particular way, often to influence how others perceive it, typically to one's own advantage.

• Have a thick skin

  To be insensitive to criticism, insults, or difficult situations without being easily hurt or offended.

• Read the Riot Act

  To deliver a stern warning to someone that they must stop misbehaving or face severe consequences.

• Fiddling while Rome burns

  To focus on trivial matters or personal enjoyments while significant problems or a major crisis are unfolding.

• To fall on one's sword

  To accept responsibility for a failure or mistake, often by resigning from a position of power or influence.

• Cross the Rubicon

  To take an irreversible step, make a final decision, or commit to a course of action from which there is no turning back.

• Beyond the pale

  Something is beyond the pale if it is considered unacceptable or outside the bounds of conventional morality or good taste.

• Pyrrhic victory

  A victory achieved at such a devastating cost to the victor that it is tantamount to defeat.

• The shot heard 'round the world

  This phrase describes an event, action, or utterance that has significant and far-reaching consequences globally or across a wide domain.

• Change horses in midstream

  To make a major alteration or replace a leader during an ongoing, critical, or difficult undertaking.

• Switch horses in midstream

  To make a fundamental change in leadership, plans, or approach while a project or endeavor is already underway, often at a critical or difficult point.

• Main Street vs Wall Street

  This phrase describes the conflict of interests between the everyday public, small businesses, and the general economy (Main Street) versus the powerful financial institutions, investment banks, and the stock market (Wall Street).

• To read the writing on the wall

  To recognize the obvious signs of a future event, especially an impending disaster or failure.

• To build bridges

  To create or improve relationships, understanding, and communication between individuals or groups, especially after a period of disagreement or separation.

• Get red-pilled

  To undergo a sudden, often uncomfortable, realization of a deeper or hidden truth, particularly about societal or political systems, that fundamentally changes one's worldview.

• Red-pilled

  To become aware of a supposed deeper, often unsettling or controversial, truth or reality after having been previously unaware or misinformed.

• The emperor has no clothes

  This phrase describes a situation where an obvious truth is ignored or denied by many, often due to fear, deference, or collective delusion, until someone brave enough points it out.

• White-pilled

  To become optimistic or hopeful about societal issues after previously holding a cynical or pessimistic view.

• Take the black pill

  To adopt a fatalistic and nihilistic worldview, particularly regarding one's romantic prospects and broader societal standing, often leading to profound despair.

• Fait accompli

  A situation or event that has already happened or been decided and cannot be changed, often presented to others without prior consultation.

• Lost cause

  A person, effort, or idea that is doomed to fail or has no realistic hope of success.

• Woke

  To be woke means to be acutely aware of and sensitive to social injustices and systemic discrimination, particularly concerning issues of race, gender, and equality.

• Divide and conquer

  This strategy involves breaking a larger entity or problem into smaller, weaker components to overcome them more easily.

• If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen

  This phrase means that if a person cannot handle the pressure or difficulties of a particular situation, they should remove themselves from it.

• Board

  A collective group of people officially chosen to manage or supervise an organization.

• Greed is good

  This phrase asserts that avarice and the ruthless pursuit of wealth, far from being a vice, are beneficial forces that drive progress and success.

• Run it up the flagpole

  To propose an idea or plan informally to a group or individual to gauge their reaction and gather feedback.

• Homestead Act

  The Homestead Act was a series of United States federal laws granting settlers 160 acres of public land, often for free or at a very low cost, if they lived on and cultivated it for five years.

• Law of the gun

  A situation where power and control are maintained through force and violence rather than legal authority or moral principles.

• Manifest Destiny

  The 19th-century belief that the United States was divinely ordained to expand its dominion across the North American continent.

• Westward expansion

  The historical process in the 19th century where American settlers, pioneers, and their institutions moved westward across the North American continent.

• How the West was won

  This phrase refers to the historical process of American westward expansion, encompassing the settlement, conflict, and development of the western territories of the United States.

• Frontier justice

  This term refers to a system of law enforcement and punishment that is informal, often swift and harsh, typically found in areas where established legal institutions are absent or weak.

• Brain drain

  Brain drain refers to the emigration of highly skilled, intelligent, or professional individuals from a particular country, economic sector, or field.

• Stab in the back

  To betray someone in a treacherous and disloyal way, especially by someone previously trusted.

• Body politic

  The people of a nation, state, or society considered as a collective unit or an organized whole, often likened to a single living organism.

• Heavy-handed

  Acting or governing in a forceful, insensitive, or overly strict manner, often lacking subtlety or tact.

• Money doesn't smell.

  This phrase means that the source from which money is obtained is irrelevant; its value and utility are unaffected by its origin.

• design by committee

  A product, idea, or plan that is of poor quality or incoherent because it has been developed or decided upon by too many individuals, each contributing conflicting ideas, resulting in a muddled compromise.

• beyond our own shores

  Referring to places, activities, or interests that extend beyond one's native country, typically implying international or foreign involvement.

• You can't have it both ways

  One must choose between two mutually exclusive options or outcomes; it's impossible to enjoy the benefits or avoid the consequences of opposing choices simultaneously.

• Grand design

  A comprehensive, overarching, and often ambitious plan or purpose, frequently implying an intelligent creator or a master strategy.

• A questionable history

  This phrase refers to a past that is suspicious, dubious, or lacking in transparency, often suggesting hidden problems or misconduct.

• Royal Command

  A directive or order issued directly by a reigning monarch, carrying the weight of their sovereign authority.

• State Performance

  The measure of how effectively a government or public institution delivers on its responsibilities and serves its citizens.

• A gravy train

  An easy and profitable source of income or a situation that provides a continuous stream of unearned or effortless benefits.

• A sinecure

  A position that requires little or no work but still provides the holder with a salary or other benefits.

• To be voiceless

  To be unable to express one's opinions or have one's concerns heard, often due to a lack of power or representation.

• Changing the course of history

  To significantly alter the direction or outcome of major events, often with profound and lasting consequences.

• Murky waters

  A situation that is unclear, confusing, or morally ambiguous, often implying hidden complexities or illicit activities.

• A poisoned chalice

  Something that appears desirable or beneficial but ultimately brings harm, misfortune, or ruin.

• A quagmire

  A quagmire refers to a difficult, complex, or dangerous situation from which it is hard to escape.

• Utopia

  An imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect, especially in respect of politics, laws, and customs.

• sources say

  This phrase is used to attribute information to unnamed individuals who are believed to be knowledgeable about a situation, often in journalism or informal discourse.

• The thin end of the wedge

  A minor change or action that, if accepted, will lead to a series of undesirable and much more significant developments.

• The end justifies the means

  This proverb suggests that a desired outcome, if good enough, can excuse any morally questionable actions taken to achieve it.

• A seat at the table

  To have a position of influence and participation in important discussions or decision-making processes.

• A position of power

  A role or status that grants significant control, authority, or influence over others.

• To be in the ascendant

  To be increasing in power, influence, or popularity, typically after a period of lesser prominence.

• Shared prosperity

  A state where economic growth and its benefits are equitably distributed among all members of society, ensuring everyone has opportunities to improve their well-being.

• Trickle-down effect

  This economic theory posits that tax cuts or other benefits for businesses and the wealthy will stimulate the economy, with the resulting prosperity eventually benefiting everyone, including the poor.

• The common good

  The benefits and conditions that serve the well-being and flourishing of all members of a community or society.

• Collective welfare

  The overall well-being, health, and happiness of a group, community, or society as a whole.

• The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer

  This phrase describes an economic phenomenon where the wealthy accumulate more assets and resources, while the less fortunate experience a decline in their financial well-being.

• Whipping boy

  A person who is blamed or punished for the mistakes or misdeeds of others, especially those in positions of power.

• Blame game

  A situation where individuals or groups try to shift responsibility and fault onto others rather than accepting their own or working collaboratively to find a solution.

• Drawing a line in the sand

  To establish a clear limit or boundary beyond which one will not compromise or retreat.

• Issuing an ultimatum

  To present a final demand, the rejection of which will lead to a breakdown in relations or the use of force.

• Drawing a red line

  To establish a clear, absolute limit or boundary that, if crossed, will trigger serious and immediate consequences.

• Sending a clear message

  To communicate an intention, warning, or statement in a direct and unambiguous way, leaving no room for misinterpretation.

• Slippery slope

  A slippery slope describes a course of action that, once begun, is argued to lead inevitably to a series of undesirable consequences.

• Multiplier effect

  The multiplier effect describes the proportional increase in overall economic output that results from an initial change in spending or investment.

• Smoke and mirrors

  Deceptive actions or elaborate distractions used to obscure the truth or create a false, often impressive, impression.

• Public outcry

  A strong and widespread expression of public disapproval or anger concerning an event, decision, or situation.

• Wave of protest

  A sudden, widespread, and increasing series of demonstrations or public expressions of disapproval.

• Torrent of condemnation

  A sudden, overwhelming, and intense outpouring of strong disapproval or criticism.

• Backlash

  A strong, negative, and often public reaction by a large number of people to a recent event, decision, or trend.

• Chorus of disapproval

  A widespread and simultaneous expression of negative opinion, criticism, or disagreement from a group of people.

• Groundswell of opposition

  A sudden, powerful, and widespread increase in negative feeling or disagreement from a large group of people.

• Maelstrom of dissent

  A chaotic and overwhelming surge of disagreement, opposition, or protest that threatens to engulf everything.

• Sitting on a powder keg

  To be in a highly dangerous, unstable, or explosive situation that could erupt into a crisis at any moment.

• A powder keg

  A powder keg refers to a highly volatile situation or region that is ready to explode into conflict or chaos at the slightest provocation.

• A difficult precedent

  An action or decision that establishes an awkward or problematic example for future similar situations, making it harder to decide or act differently later.

• a hostile audience

  An audience that is openly antagonistic, critical, or unwelcoming towards a speaker or performer.

• A hidden agenda

  An undisclosed motive or secret plan, especially one that influences actions but is not immediately apparent.

• Poisoned chalice

  A position or gift that seems desirable but is likely to bring ruin, misfortune, or great difficulty to the recipient.

• Hidden agenda

  An undisclosed motive or secret plan that someone has, often while appearing to do something else.

• A bargaining chip

  Something used as an advantage or concession to achieve a desired outcome in a negotiation.

• The ultimate weapon

  The ultimate weapon refers to a decisive tool or capability, often military, that is believed to guarantee victory or render all other means of defense or offense obsolete.

• Dark horse

  A competitor or candidate whose abilities or potential are not publicly known but who surprises others with unexpected success.

• Maverick

  A person who acts independently and often defies conventional wisdom or group norms.

• Rogue element

  An individual or group within a larger organization that acts independently and often against the interests or directives of the main body.

• Potentially disruptive force

  An entity, factor, or situation that possesses the inherent capacity to cause significant disturbance, change, or upheaval to an existing system, market, or status quo.

• An iron fist in a velvet glove

  To exercise authority or power in a gentle, outwardly pleasant, or subtle manner while maintaining firm, unyielding control underneath.

• Have a say

  To express one's opinion or influence a decision.

• Business as usual

  The normal course of affairs continues despite a disturbance, challenge, or crisis.

• A paper tiger

  A paper tiger refers to a person, organization, or thing that appears threatening or powerful but is in fact ineffectual and easily overcome.

• Bow down

  To show extreme respect, submission, or worship, often by physically bending at the waist or kneeling.

• Root and branch

  To do something root and branch means to do it completely, fundamentally, and thoroughly, affecting every single part or aspect.

• Promote the message

  To actively spread an idea, belief, or piece of information to a wider audience, often with the goal of encouraging acceptance or action.

• Quid pro quo

  An exchange of goods or services, where one transfer is contingent upon the other, implying a mutual exchange or a favor for a favor.

• Have nothing to hide

  To be completely transparent and open, without any secrets, illicit activities, or shameful acts to conceal.

• Special interest

  A specific concern or cause that benefits a particular individual or group, often implying a vested, self-serving motive in contrast to the general public good.

• Kicking the can down the road

  To avoid dealing with a problem or making a difficult decision, usually by delaying it until a later time or passing it to others.

• A token gesture

  An action or statement that is symbolic and minimal, often done to show an intention without offering any real commitment or practical effect.

• United front

  A situation where a group of people or organizations present a unified and cohesive opposition or stance against a common adversary or issue.

• Nuclear proliferation

  The spread of nuclear weapons, fissionable material, and weapons-applicable nuclear technology and information to nations not officially recognized as "Nuclear Weapon States" by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

• Military buildup

  A rapid and significant increase in a nation's armed forces, weaponry, or overall military capabilities.

• Prepared for confrontation

  To be mentally, emotionally, or strategically ready to engage in a direct and often forceful disagreement, conflict, or challenge.

• Take up arms

  To prepare for or begin fighting, especially in a conflict, rebellion, or war.

• Security dilemma

  The security dilemma describes how a state's efforts to increase its own security, such as by increasing military strength or forming alliances, can unintentionally lead other states to feel less secure and thus respond with similar measures, potentially escalating tensions and conflict.

• Deterrence theory

  Deterrence theory posits that a nation can prevent an attack by maintaining military capabilities so formidable that the cost of attacking would far outweigh any potential gains for an aggressor.

• Technological arms race

  A continuous and escalating competition among nations or entities to develop and acquire advanced technologies, especially those with strategic or military implications, in a bid to gain a superior advantage.

• Space race

  The Cold War-era competition between the United States and the Soviet Union to achieve superiority in spaceflight and exploration.

• Strategic competition

  A long-term rivalry between major global powers involving economic, technological, and political influence, often short of direct military conflict.

• Disarmament

  The reduction, limitation, or abolition of weapons and military forces by a nation or group of nations.

• Escalation of conflict

  The process by which a disagreement or dispute intensifies in severity, scope, or violence.

• Down with something

  This phrase is a forceful exclamation used to express strong disapproval, rejection, or opposition towards a particular person, idea, or institution.

• A master of evasion

  Someone exceptionally skilled at artfully avoiding capture, responsibility, or direct confrontation through cunning and dexterity.

• Untouchable

  Someone or something is considered untouchable when they are so powerful, successful, or protected that they cannot be defeated, criticized, or harmed, often due to their status, influence, or exceptional ability.

• To cross the Rubicon

  To make an irreversible decision or take a decisive step that commits one to a specific, often risky, course of action.

• On the chopping block

  To be in a position where one is likely to be eliminated, dismissed, or drastically cut.

• Boots on the ground

  The physical presence of people in a specific location to carry out a task, often referring to military personnel or aid workers.

• On the ground

  Referring to the practical situation or direct involvement at the actual location of an event or activity.

• Choose the losing side

  To intentionally support or align oneself with a party, idea, or conflict that is destined to fail or be defeated.

• Prop up

  To support something or someone, often temporarily, to prevent it from falling, collapsing, or failing.

• Subsidize

  To provide financial assistance or support to an industry, business, or individual, often by a government.

• Openly defiant

  To refuse to obey rules or authority in a bold and unmistakable manner.

• Supporter group

  A collection of individuals who are passionately dedicated to and actively back a particular sports team, person, or cause.