Word Study
brinksmanship
CIDE DICTIONARY
brinksmanship, n. [brink + -manship. (1956).].
the policy or practise of pushing a dangerous situation to the brink of disaster (to the limits of safety), in order to achieve the most advantageous outcome; -- used especially of diplomatic maneuvers in crisis situations, and originally applied to the policies of John Foster Dulles under President Eisenhower. [WordNet 1.5]
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