From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishtug-of-warˌtug-of-ˈwar noun [singular] 1 DSOa test of strength in which two teams pull opposite ends of a rope against each other2 FIGHTa situation in which two people or groups try very hard to get or keep the same thing There was a constant tug-of-war between the military and the president.
Examples from the Corpus
tug-of-war• Two people pulling in opposite directions have a tug-of-war.• Rather, what seems to be happening is a tug-of-war over where exactly the bipartisan centre stands.• Often, several make contact with the wall and then there is a tug-of-war between them.• She heard the break before she actually saw the child who had fallen at the winning end of a tug-of-war rope.• The children are trapped in an emotional tug-of-war between their parents.• They have intricate games of tug-of-war with anything long enough to pull.• Opposing forces were in precarious balance, and resolving their tug-of-war was his prime concern. 