tug of war
noun /ˌtʌɡ əv ˈwɔː(r)/
/ˌtʌɡ əv ˈwɔːr/
[singular, uncountable]- a sporting event in which two teams pull at opposite ends of a rope until one team drags the other over a line on the ground
- a situation in which two people or groups try very hard to get or keep the same thing
- After the divorce they became involved in an emotional tug of war over the children.