Definition of 'battle of wills'

battle of wills

phrase

A battle of wills is a situation that involves people who try to defeat each other by refusing to change their own aims or demands and hoping that their opponents will weaken first.

The President offered compromises to parliament to defuse the battle of wills over who should wield power.

battle

battle of wills in British

(ˈbætəl əv wɪlz)

noun

a situation that involves people who try to defeat each other by refusing to change their own aims or demands and hoping that their opponents will weaken first

The battle of wills between father and daughter

The President offered compromises to parliament to defuse the battle of wills over who should wield power.

Example sentences containing 'battle of wills'

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Climbing the Hill Howie had expected the fight ahead to be somehow refined; a battle of wills or wits. Clive Barker THE GREAT AND SECRET SHOW (2001)It was a battle of wills, and Grace's was the stronger. Melville, Anne THE HARDIE INHERITANCE (2001)"The German was clearly claiming victory in their private battle of wills. Dobbs, Michael WALL GAMES (2001)

Nearby words of 'battle of wills'

Source

Definition of battle of wills from the Collins English Dictionary

Shall and will

The normal way to express simple future time in English is using the modal verb will followed by the base form of a main verb. The modal verb shall is not used very much in modern English, except in...