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Tug of War

What Does "Tug of War" Mean?

homeidiomsTug of War
"Tug of war" is an English idiom. It means "a competitive sport or game in which two teams or individuals pull on opposite ends of a rope, with the goal of dragging the opposing side across a designated line or marker."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "tug of war" used in a sentence:
  • The annual tug of war competition between the neighbourhood teams was a highlight of the summer festival.
  • They organized a friendly tug of war match at the company picnic, with employees from different departments participating.
  • Tug of war requires not only physical strength but also teamwork and strategy to win.
meaning for tug of war

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Tug of War" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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