saber-rattling 剑拔弩张

bca

剑拔弩张 [jiàn bá nǔ zhāng]
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confront each other with daggers;

all set for a showdown;

be at daggers drawn;

be at loggerheads;

be at swords' points;

becoming dangerously explosive;

daggers drawn and sabers rattling;

fingers on the triggers;

in a blustering and aggressive manner;

ready to jump at each other's throat;

stand ready to cross swords with sb.;

with swords drawn and bows stretched -- ready to fight:

南北双方形成了剑拔弩张的紧张局势。The North and South were at loggerheads.


剑拔弩张，还有个更地道的翻译：saber-rattling
"actions and statements that are meant to frighten or threaten an enemy by suggesting the possible use of force"
例句：

United States and Russia; 'Sabre-rattling by the Superpowers'