hammer and anvil

noun

A tactic involving the use of two primary forces, one to pin down an enemy and the other to encircle him.

“Coercion and intimidation are the hammer and anvil of experienced police officers.”

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Meanings

nounhammer and anvil (uncountable)
  1. uncountablegovernmentA tactic involving the use of two primary forces, one to pin down an enemy and the other to encircle him.
  2. broadlyfigurativelyuncountableA two-pronged method that is commonly deployed, or the two mechanisms used to carry it out.

    Coercion and intimidation are the hammer and anvil of experienced police officers.

Cite this entry
APA

hammer and anvil. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hammer%20and%20anvil

MLA

“hammer and anvil.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hammer%20and%20anvil. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hammer and anvil,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hammer%20and%20anvil.

Source: hammer and anvil on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.