tug of war
[noun]
Synonyms: contest, competition, conflict, emulation, rivalry, strife, striving, warfare

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

ˌtug-of-ˈwar noun [singular]

1. a test of strength in which two teams pull opposite ends of a rope against each other

2. a situation in which two people or groups try very hard to get or keep the same thing:
There was a constant tug-of-war between the military and the President.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

tug-of-war
1. a game in which two teams pull on opposite ends of a rope and try to pull the other team over a line marked on the ground
The children played tug-of-war at the summer camp.

2. a situation in which two sides try to defeat each other, a struggle over something
The two countries have been involved in a tug-of-war over the disputed territory for many years.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

tug of war
n.
1. A game in which two teams pull on opposite ends of a rope, trying to pull the other team over a line marked on the ground.
The tug-of-war ended when both teams tumbled in a heap.
2. A contest in which two sides try to defeat each other; struggle.
A tug-of-war developed between the boys who wanted to go fishing and those who wanted to go hiking.
Betty felt a tug-of-war between her wish to go to the movies and her realizing she had to do her homework.
The tug of war between the union men and management ended in a long strike.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲