sabre-rattling

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Military

ˈsabre-ˌrattling noun [uncountable]  PMTHREATENwhen someone threatens to use force but you do not think they are very frightening or serious 武力恫吓，威吓 What the situation calls for is calm discussion, not sabre-rattling. 这种局面需要的是心平气和的商谈，而不是武力恐吓。

Examples from the Corpus

sabre-rattling• Q.. Then why all the sabre-rattling?

ˈsabre-ˌrattling nounChineseSyllable  

but force use someone when to Corpus not do threatens you

sabre-rattling
ˈsabre-ˌrattling noun [uncountable]
when someone threatens to use force but you do not think they are very frightening or serious:
    What the situation calls for is calm discussion, not sabre-rattling.

sabre-rattlingBrE /ˈseɪbə rætlɪŋ/ 🔊NAmE /ˈseɪbər rætlɪŋ/ 🔊 (especially US ˈsaber-rattling) noun [uncountable] the act of trying to frighten sb by threatening to use force 武力威胁；武力恫吓