How to Pronounce "circular firing squad"
expression
SUR-kyuh-lur FY-ur-ing SKWAHD
SUR-kyuh-luh FY-uh-ring SKWOD
Definition
A situation where a group harms itself by attacking its own members instead of working together, often used to describe pointless internal conflict that weakens the whole group.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈsɝkjəɫɝ/ /ˈfaɪɝɹɪŋ/, /ˈfaɪɹɪŋ/ /ˈskwɑd
British English
sˈɜːkjʊlɐ/ /fˈaɪəɹɪŋ/ /skwˈɒd
Simplified Pronunciation
US
SUR-kyuh-lur FY-ur-ing SKWAHD
UK
SUR-kyuh-luh FY-uh-ring SKWOD
Listen in Context
The committee became a circular firing squad when members started blaming each other.
The team was supposed to unite, but instead they formed a circular firing squad.
Fighting among members turned the project into a circular firing squad.
Online debates these days are just a circular firing squad—everyone attacks their own side.