cut and thrust

cut and thrust
noun
1. : cutting and thrusting with a sword
2. : the interplay of a sharp struggle

the inevitability of war between the two … powers was implicit … in the cut and thrust necessarily concealed at the time — Times Literary Supplement

* * *

cut and thrust
1. (in fencing) the use of the edges and the point of the weapon
2. Swift, shrewd and cleverly-calculated action or reaction, argument, etc (cut-and-thrustˈ adjective)
• • •
Main Entry: ↑cut

* * *

cut and thrust,
1. the action, especially in swordplay, of cutting and thrusting.
2. active interplay between opposing interests: »

a master at cut and thrust in debate (Wall Street Journal).

* * *

I
Fencing the use of both the edge and the point of one’s sword while fighting
■ a spirited and rapid interchange of views

the cut and thrust of political debate

■ a situation or sphere of activity regarded as carried out under adversarial conditions

the ruthless cut and thrust of the business world

II
see cut

* * *

cut and thrust
chiefly Brit : the lively and exciting quality of an activity in which people compete or argue with each other

He has always enjoyed the cut and thrust of politics.

• • •
Main Entry: ↑cut
————————
cut and thrust — see ↑cut, 2
• • •
Main Entry: ↑thrust

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • cut-and-thrust — [kut′ nthrust′] n. 〚< techniques employed in swordplay〛 a lively, aggressive manner [the cut and thrust of partisan politics]: also cut and thrust * * * …   Universalium

  • cut-and-thrust — [kut′ nthrust′] n. [< techniques employed in swordplay] a lively, aggressive manner [the cut and thrust of partisan politics]: also cut and thrust …   English World dictionary

  • cut and thrust — ► cut and thrust a difficult or competitive atmosphere or environment. [ORIGIN: originally a fencing phrase.] Main Entry: ↑cut …   English terms dictionary

  • cut-and-thrust — noun fighting with knives • Syn: ↑knife fight, ↑snickersnee • Hypernyms: ↑fight, ↑fighting, ↑combat, ↑scrap * * * cut and thrust see ↑cut and thrust …   Useful english dictionary

  • cut and thrust — a difficult or competitive atmosphere or environment: the cut and thrust of political debate. [orig. a fencing phr.] → cut …   English new terms dictionary

  • cut-and-thrust — noun A vehement argument He never got used to the cut and thrust of political debate …   Wiktionary

  • (the) cut and thrust (of something) — the cut and thrust (of something) british phrase the lively or determined way in which something is done He enjoys the cut and thrust of political life. Thesaurus: quality of being interesting, exciting or livelysynonym Main entry: cut * * * the… …   Useful english dictionary

  • (the) cut and thrust of something — the cut and thrust of (something) lively discussion or activity. James enjoys the cut and thrust of debating …   New idioms dictionary

  • (the) cut and thrust of — the cut and thrust of (something) lively discussion or activity. James enjoys the cut and thrust of debating …   New idioms dictionary

  • Cut-and-Thrust Sword — the spada filo or spada da lato of the Italian Renaissance masters. The sword was a thinner, more tapered sword than the earlier Medieval forms, but still shorter and wider than the nearly edgless rapier. They were used for hacking, slashing,… …   Medieval glossary

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