Dictionary

big stick en · NOUN

Meanings

1. (attributive, often) Significant power to punish or coerce.
   • Wilson publicly rejected both the "big stick diplomacy" of Teddy Roosevelt and the "dollar diplomacy" of William Howard Taft; […] 1997, Randall Hansis, The Latin Americans: Understanding Their Legacy, page 188:
   • Too much debate theory is based on power rather than reason. Kritiks are used as big sticks to avoid one of the duties closely associated with debating — research. 2002, Kenneth T. Broda-Bahm, Perspectives in Controversy, page 300:
   • It is difficult to deny that the American political culture of the Big Stick ideology (speak softly, and carry a big stick) is just another form of neo-imperialism; colonial power was reestablished in the new millennium. 2015, Falk Huettmann, Central American Biodiversity, page 34:

Forms

Relateds

stick and carrot · talk softly and carry a big stick · speak softly and carry a big stick · carrot and stick · walk softly and carry a big stick

Translations (1)

es jarabe de palo (Translations)