A pincer movement is an attack by an army or other group in which they attack their enemies in two places at oncewith the aim of surrounding them.
They are moving in a pincer movement to cut the republic in two.
pincer movement in British English
(ˈpɪnsə)
noun
a military tactical movement in which two columns of an army follow a curved route towards each other with the aim of isolating and surrounding an enemy
Also called: envelopment
Examples of 'pincer movement' in a sentence
pincer movement
The Russians developed a huge pincer movement against the flanks of the salient that led to Stalingrad.
Townsend, Eileen IN LOVE AND WAR (2002)
They split into two groups, a pincer movement round the burning wreckage.
Brierley, David SKORPION'S DEATH (2002)
`Oh, I meant to say to you earlier,' Lola said, as they passed each other in a pincer movement, `I found these in Hogarth's desk.