Big Stick (Noun)
Meaning
A display of force or power; "speak softly but carry a big stick".
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The country's military buildup was a big stick that its neighbors couldn't ignore.
- The company's financial reserves were a big stick that allowed it to weather the economic downturn.
- The police department's new SWAT team was a big stick that helped to reduce crime in the city.
- The government's threat of economic sanctions was a big stick that brought the opposing country to the negotiating table.
- The tech company's patent portfolio was a big stick that protected it from lawsuits by rival firms.