noun
Meaning 1
A dispute over territory between rival gangs.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Phrase guide
turf war
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
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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General-American: /ˈtɚf woɹ/
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Received-Pronunciation: /ˈtɜːf wɔː/
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Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
noun
Meaning 2
A fight or confrontation between two divisions or parties for access to resources or capital.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 3
a bitter struggle for territory or power or control or rights
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- a turf war erupted between street gangs
- the president's resignation was the result of a turf war with the board of directors
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: conflict, struggle, battle
History
Etymology
The phrase may have originated as a reference to the game of American football where two teams confront each other on a field of grass or turf.
Across languages
Translations
3 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Polish: wojna terytorialna — Translations
- Spanish: lucha territorial — Translations
- Spanish: pugna pandillera — Translations