Standard Lemma guide

sabre-rattle

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To threaten a big battle or war.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the early 20th century, when an officer would threaten to draw his sabre.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Belarusian: бра́згаць збро́яй (brázhacʹ zbrójaj) — to threaten a big battle or war
  • Chinese Mandarin: 耀武揚威 /耀武扬威 (yàowǔ yángwēi) — to threaten a big battle or war
  • Chinese Mandarin: 炫耀武力 (xuànyào wǔlì) — to threaten a big battle or war
  • Finnish: kalistella sapeliaan — to threaten a big battle or war
  • German: Säbel rasseln — to threaten a big battle or war
  • Polish: wymachiwać szabelką — to threaten a big battle or war
  • Russian: бряца́ть ору́жием (brjacátʹ orúžijem) — to threaten a big battle or war
  • Ukrainian: бря́зкати збро́єю (brjázkaty zbrójeju) — to threaten a big battle or war