big stick

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But failure would give the government's main opponent, Reform, a big stick with which to beat it, at the next election.

From BBC

"This was ultimately a negotiation in which President Trump was threatening other countries with a big stick and that stick just got considerably more ephemeral."

From BBC

One is that Trump has turned Theodore Roosevelt’s maxim to “speak softly and carry a big stick” on its head: He speaks loudly and carries barely any stick at all.

From Los Angeles Times

This feeling of certainty and Scotland sit as well together as a hornets' nest and a big stick.

From BBC

That is a big stick to beat his players with.

From BBC