War is a serious topic, but it has shaped many common expressions. From intense battles to smart strategies, idioms about war often describe everyday struggles or competitions.
These phrases go beyond fighting, helping us talk about challenges and victories in our lives. Let’s see how military language has marched into our conversations, adding impact and imagery.
Best Idioms About War
1. Bite the bullet
Meaning: Accept a difficult situation and face it bravely.
In a Sentence: She had to bite the bullet and work extra hours to meet the deadline. Despite the financial strain, they decided to bite the bullet and invest in their future.
Other Ways to Say: Face the music, Grin and bear it, Steel oneself, Endure, Persevere
2. Fight tooth and nail
Meaning: Struggle fiercely with all effort.
In a Sentence: He fought tooth and nail to protect his family’s reputation. The small business fought tooth and nail to stay afloat during the recession.
Other Ways to Say: Fight fiercely, Struggle hard, Go all out, Give it your all
3. Uphill battle
Meaning: A difficult struggle requiring great effort.
In a Sentence: Getting the new policy approved was an uphill battle from the start. For many startups, securing initial funding can feel like an uphill battle.
Other Ways to Say: Hard struggle, Difficult task, Challenging endeavor, Tough fight
4. Battle
Meaning: Fight against a challenge or opponent.
In a Sentence: She had to battle her anxiety before delivering the presentation. The company is battling fierce competition in the market.
Other Ways to Say: Fight, Combat, Contend with, Struggle with
5. Battle against
Meaning: Oppose or fight against an issue.
In a Sentence: Activists continue to battle against climate change denial. The community is battling against the proposed development.
Other Ways to Say: Oppose, Resist, Contend with, Fight off
6. Take up arms
Meaning: Prepare to fight or engage in conflict.
In a Sentence: When their rights were threatened, the citizens decided to take up arms metaphorically. The opposition party prepared to take up arms against the new legislation.
Other Ways to Say: Prepare for conflict, Mobilize, Go to war, Arm oneself
7. Fight the good fight
Meaning: Struggle for a worthy cause.
In a Sentence: She has always believed in equality and continues to fight the good fight. Even when facing setbacks, it’s important to fight the good fight for what you believe in.
Other Ways to Say: Strive for justice, Advocate for a cause, Champion a principle
8. Go to the mat
Meaning: Fight relentlessly to the end.
In a Sentence: He was willing to go to the mat to ensure fair treatment for his employees. They promised to go to the mat for their client in court.
Other Ways to Say: Fight to the end, Persevere, Stand firm, See it through
9. Hold your ground
Meaning: Stand firm in a conflict.
In a Sentence: Despite intense questioning, she managed to hold her ground during the interview. The defense attorney advised his client to hold her ground against the accusations.
Other Ways to Say: Stand firm, Stand your ground, Maintain your position, Resist
10. Draw a line in the sand
Meaning: Set a limit and prepare to fight.
In a Sentence: The manager drew a line in the sand regarding project deadlines. After repeated violations, the parents drew a line in the sand with their children.
Other Ways to Say: Set a limit, Establish boundaries, Make a stand, Take a firm stance
11. War of nerves
Meaning: A psychological battle causing stress.
In a Sentence: The high-stakes negotiations turned into a prolonged war of nerves. Waiting for the exam results felt like a constant war of nerves.
Other Ways to Say: Psychological warfare, Battle of wits, Standoff
12. Fog of war
Meaning: Confusion and chaos during conflict.
In a Sentence: In the fog of war, accurate information was hard to come by. The early stages of the crisis were characterized by a complete fog of war.
Other Ways to Say: Confusion of conflict, Chaos of battle, Uncertainty
13. Fight fire with fire
Meaning: Use aggressive tactics to counter an opponent.
In a Sentence: When they started spreading rumors, we decided to fight fire with fire by releasing our own exposé. To counter their aggressive marketing, the company chose to fight fire with fire.
Other Ways to Say: Retaliate in kind, Use similar tactics, Counterattack
14. To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace
Meaning: Preparing for conflict helps maintain peace.
In a Sentence: The nation’s strong military adheres to the principle: to be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace. Their investment in defensive technology shows that they believe being prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.
Other Ways to Say: Deterrence, Preparedness for peace, Strength for stability
15. Lay down your arms
Meaning: Abandon conflict or surrender weapons.
In a Sentence: After a long debate, both sides agreed to lay down their arms and seek a compromise. The rival factions were urged to lay down their arms and begin peace talks.
Other Ways to Say: Surrender, Yield, Cease hostilities, Make peace
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Peace: Discovering Inner Calm
16. Keep your powder dry
Meaning: Stay prepared for future conflict.
In a Sentence: The financial advisor told his clients to keep their powder dry for future investment opportunities. In a volatile market, it’s wise to keep your powder dry and wait for the right moment.
Other Ways to Say: Stay prepared, Be ready, Be vigilant, Remain alert
17. Choose your battles
Meaning: Select conflicts worth fighting.
In a Sentence: As a leader, you need to learn to choose your battles wisely. She decided to choose her battles and let go of minor disagreements.
Other Ways to Say: Prioritize conflicts, Be selective in disputes, Pick your fights
18. Beat the drums of war
Meaning: Stir up or provoke conflict.
In a Sentence: Some politicians were accused of beating the drums of war rather than pursuing diplomatic solutions. The media’s sensational reporting seemed to beat the drums of war.
Other Ways to Say: Incite conflict, Stir up trouble, Agitate for war
19. Plan of attack
Meaning: A strategic plan to tackle a problem.
In a Sentence: The marketing team developed a new plan of attack for the upcoming campaign. Before starting the project, we need a solid plan of attack.
Other Ways to Say: Strategy, Game plan, Course of action, Approach
20. Outgunned
Meaning: Overpowered by a stronger opponent.
In a Sentence: The smaller company felt outgunned by the multinational corporation in the bidding war. In the debate, he felt completely outgunned by his opponent’s superior arguments.
Other Ways to Say: Overpowered, Outmatched, Disadvantaged, Undermanned
21. Bury the hatchet
Meaning: Make peace and end a conflict.
In a Sentence: After years of rivalry, the two brothers decided to bury the hatchet. For the sake of the team, they agreed to bury the hatchet and work together.
Other Ways to Say: Make peace, Reconcile, Call a truce, End a feud
22. Close ranks
Meaning: Unite to face a challenge.
In a Sentence: When faced with external criticism, the team closed ranks and supported each other. The community closed ranks to protect their local park from development.
Other Ways to Say: Unite, Stand together, Join forces, Consolidate
23. Make love not war
Meaning: Choose peace and love over conflict.
In a Sentence: During the protest, the crowd chanted “Make love, not war.” Her philosophy in life was always to make love, not war.
Other Ways to Say: Promote peace, Advocate for harmony, Choose peace over conflict
24. Wave the white flag
Meaning: Surrender or admit defeat.
In a Sentence: After struggling for hours, he finally waved the white flag and asked for help. The losing team had to wave the white flag in the final minutes of the game.
Other Ways to Say: Surrender, Give up, Concede defeat, Yield
25. Extend an olive branch
Meaning: Offer reconciliation or peace.
In a Sentence: After their argument, she decided to extend an olive branch by inviting him for coffee. The leader chose to extend an olive branch to the opposition party.
Other Ways to Say: Offer peace, Seek reconciliation, Make amends, Propose a truce
26. Ceasefire
Meaning: Temporarily halt a conflict or dispute.
In a Sentence: The two companies declared a ceasefire in their price war. They agreed to a temporary ceasefire to discuss potential solutions.
Other Ways to Say: Truce, Armistice, Suspension of hostilities, Stand-down
27. Join forces
Meaning: Unite to achieve a common goal.
In a Sentence: The two departments decided to join forces to complete the complex project. Rival companies sometimes join forces for large industry initiatives.
Other Ways to Say: Collaborate, Team up, Combine efforts, Work together
28. Band together
Meaning: Unite to face a challenge.
In a Sentence: The neighbors banded together to clean up the park. They had to band together to overcome the difficult obstacle.
Other Ways to Say: Unite, Form a group, Ally, Cooperate
29. Rally the troops
Meaning: Gather people to prepare for action.
In a Sentence: Before the big presentation, the manager had to rally the troops. The coach tried to rally the troops at halftime despite being behind.
Other Ways to Say: Gather support, Galvanize, Mobilize, Inspire action
30. United we stand
Meaning: Unity creates strength.
In a Sentence: In times of crisis, it’s essential to remember that united we stand. The team’s motto was simple: united we stand.
Other Ways to Say: Strength in unity, Together we are strong, Solidarity
31. At war
Meaning: In a state of conflict or opposition.
In a Sentence: The two siblings seemed to be constantly at war over trivial matters. The marketing and sales teams were always at war over budget allocations.
Other Ways to Say: In conflict, In opposition, Feuding, Hostile
32. Wage war
Meaning: Initiate or sustain a conflict.
In a Sentence: The company decided to wage war on its competitors with aggressive pricing. He vowed to wage war against injustice wherever he found it.
Other Ways to Say: Engage in conflict, Start a war, Fight against, Campaign against
33. Make war
Meaning: Start or engage in conflict.
In a Sentence: He used his platform to make war on outdated regulations. The two factions were threatening to make war over the disputed territory.
Other Ways to Say: Go to war, Initiate conflict, Declare war, Fight
34. Been in the wars
Meaning: Been through tough struggles, as if injured in war.
In a Sentence: After working on the project for six months straight, he looked like he’d been in the wars. Her old car looked like it had been in the wars, with dents and scratches everywhere.
Other Ways to Say: Been through a lot, Look worn out, Suffered hardships, Battered
35. Open old wounds
Meaning: Revive past conflicts or pain.
In a Sentence: His insensitive comment served only to open old wounds from their previous disagreement. Discussing the family inheritance often tends to open old wounds.
Other Ways to Say: Reopen old sores, Bring up past grievances, Rekindle past pain
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Death End of Life Phrases
36. Fight a losing battle
Meaning: Struggle with little chance of success.
In a Sentence: She felt like she was fighting a losing battle against the rising tide of paperwork. The small startup was fighting a losing battle against the established industry giants.
Other Ways to Say: Struggle in vain, Face inevitable defeat, Be on a losing streak
37. Go to war
Meaning: Start a major conflict.
In a Sentence: The two tech giants threatened to go to war over intellectual property rights. The company was prepared to go to war to defend its market share.
Other Ways to Say: Start a conflict, Engage in hostilities, Declare war, Begin a fierce dispute
38. In the line of fire
Meaning: In a vulnerable position during conflict.
In a Sentence: As CEO, she was often in the line of fire for company decisions. The frontline workers were constantly in the line of fire during the pandemic.
Other Ways to Say: Vulnerable, Exposed to criticism, Under attack, In harm’s way
39. Cross swords
Meaning: Engage in a heated argument or conflict.
In a Sentence: The two directors often crossed swords during board meetings. He was prepared to cross swords with anyone who challenged his authority.
Other Ways to Say: Argue, Dispute, Clash, Contend
40. Lock horns
Meaning: Engage in a fierce dispute.
In a Sentence: The legal teams of both companies locked horns over the patent infringement case. Siblings often lock horns over who gets the last piece of cake.
Other Ways to Say: Argue fiercely, Clash, Disagree strongly, Confront
41. Win the battle, lose the war
Meaning: Succeed in a small fight but fail overall.
In a Sentence: He won the small argument, but by alienating his colleagues, he effectively won the battle but lost the war. The company gained market share in one product line but won the battle, lost the war when their main business suffered.
Other Ways to Say: Pyrrhic victory, Short-term gain, Long-term loss, Hollow victory
42. Live to fight another day
Meaning: Survive to continue struggling later.
In a Sentence: After the unexpected setback, they decided to retreat and live to fight another day. Sometimes, it’s better to concede a small point so you can live to fight another day on a more important issue.
Other Ways to Say: Retreat to fight again, Survive to fight another time, Preserve oneself for future battles
43. Take no prisoners
Meaning: Act ruthlessly, without mercy.
In a Sentence: In the cutthroat world of finance, some investors take no prisoners. The new CEO’s strategy was to take no prisoners in their drive for efficiency.
Other Ways to Say: Be ruthless, Show no mercy, Be unforgiving, Be relentless
44. Battle-scarred
Meaning: Marked by past conflicts, experienced.
In a Sentence: The old detective was battle-scarred from years on the force. Her resume showed she was a battle-scarred veteran of many corporate takeovers.
Other Ways to Say: Experienced, Hardened, Worn from conflict, Marked by struggle
45. Blood on the floor
Meaning: Severe consequences from a conflict.
In a Sentence: After the merger, there was blood on the floor as many employees were laid off. The board meeting was intense; everyone expected blood on the floor.
Other Ways to Say: Severe repercussions, Drastic consequences, Major fallout, Carnage
46. Win the war
Meaning: Achieve final victory in a conflict.
In a Sentence: After years of hard work, they finally won the war against poverty in their community. Securing the major contract meant they had won the war against their biggest rival.
Other Ways to Say: Achieve ultimate victory, Emerge victorious, Triumph, Conquer
47. Pyrrhic victory
Meaning: A victory with heavy losses.
In a Sentence: Winning the lawsuit was a Pyrrhic victory as it bankrupted the company. Her promotion was a Pyrrhic victory because it meant sacrificing her personal life.
Other Ways to Say: Costly victory, Hollow triumph, Victory at great expense, Bitter triumph
48. Leave the field
Meaning: Withdraw from a conflict or battle.
In a Sentence: Seeing the futility of the argument, he decided to leave the field. After realizing they couldn’t compete, the small firm chose to leave the field to larger players.
Other Ways to Say: Withdraw, Retreat, Concede, Give up
49. Raise the white flag
Meaning: Surrender or admit defeat.
In a Sentence: Exhausted from the debate, she had to raise the white flag. The struggling business eventually had to raise the white flag and declare bankruptcy.
Other Ways to Say: Surrender, Give in, Admit defeat, Yield
50. Claim victory
Meaning: Declare success after a conflict.
In a Sentence: After the successful negotiations, the CEO was quick to claim victory. The team ran onto the field to claim victory after the final whistle.
Exercise to Practice – Idioms About War
- After weeks of intense negotiations, the meeting was a pure _________________________ for both sides.
- The company decided to _________________________ against their competitor’s aggressive marketing tactics.
- Despite the fierce opposition, the activist continued to _________________________ for environmental protection.
- When the project failed, the manager looked like she’d _________________________ from all the stress.
- They were accused of _________________________ by constantly publishing inflammatory articles.
- The two departments have been _________________________ over resources for months.
- Even after a tough loss, the coach told his team to _________________________ and prepare for the next game.
- The mayor tried to _________________________ with the disgruntled community members by addressing their concerns directly.
- She knew it would be an _________________________ to get the old system replaced, but she was determined.
- During the crisis, it was hard to get clear information due to the _________________________.
Answer Key
- war of nerves
- wage war
- fight the good fight
- been in the wars
- beating the drums of war
- at war
- live to fight another day
- extend an olive branch
- uphill battle
- fog of war
Conclusion
Idioms about war powerfully describe daily struggles and victories, far beyond the battlefield. These expressions show how concepts of conflict and strategy are woven into our everyday language. By using them, you can add a vivid, impactful dimension to your conversations, making your words truly resonate with strength and determination.
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
