# tug of war

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/tug-of-war
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A dispute between two parties, particularly an entrenched, back-and-forth dispute.

## Examples

- The siblings are in a tug of war over the family house.
- The two departments are in a constant tug of war for the limited budget.
- For decades, the city council and local residents have been locked in a bitter tug of war over whether to demolish the historic market or preserve it.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.