How to Pronounce "war of nerves"
expression
WAR-uhv-NURVZ
WAW-uhv-NURVZ
Definition
A situation where people try to defeat each other by creating stress, fear, or uncertainty rather than by direct physical force; often used in politics, business, or competition.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈwɔɹ/ /ˈəv/ /ˈnɝvz
British English
wˈɔː/ /ˈɒv/ /nˈɜːvz
Simplified Pronunciation
US
WAR-uhv-NURVZ
UK
WAW-uhv-NURVZ
Listen in Context
The negotiations turned into a war of nerves between the two leaders.
It became a war of nerves to see who would quit first.
The election campaign was a long war of nerves.
The two companies have been in a war of nerves for months, waiting to see who blinks first.