Political Metaphors 401 Sports Military
Political Chess, Political Baton, Lowering the Bar, Political Rope-a-dope, Scoring Political Points, Political Curveball, Political Home Run, Political Dominoes, Political firing line, Political Foot Soldiers, Taking the Flak
Sports Metaphors in Politics
Because we often hear of the political game being played, it is apt that there would be plenty of jargon that the political world uses from the world of sports.
Track sports
The electoral race has sometimes been compared to a relay race, especially when discussing if an incumbent can pass on their advantages to his party’s nominee. There are often references to handing off or passing the political baton. Barack Obama had also described his presidency as a relay race. Lowering the bar in politics , a phrase commonly used, comes from the sport of vaulting.
Boxing
If you see politics as one long boxing event, there is plenty of evidence to support that. However, there are others that have argued that presidential debates are not boxing matches and that our politicians are not pugilists, but politicians. No matter which side you fall on in the debate, read on and enjoy the political metaphors.
A common boxing maneuver, popularized by Mohammed Ali called “Rope-a-dope”, is commonly used in politics. The boxer chooses to take blows while leaning back on the ropes in an attempt to wear out his opponent.
“Explaining Clinton’s Rope-A-Dope Strategy Vs. Trump’s Whistle-Stopping”
“Foxconn’s Gou throws hat in ring for Taiwan presidency, with blessing of sea goddess”
“No real knock out punches in final debate of federal election campaign”
“Lawmakers Set to Take Gloves Off in Next Coronavirus Aid Fight”
“The meaningless of scoring political points”
“Why President Trump has the Fed on the ropes“
“New parties to slug it out in 2019 elections”
Political Chess and Dominoes
Politicians are adept in the game of political chess. They seem to have no hesitation in using people as pawns and moving political chess pieces. There is always speculation around what political dominoes might be the next to tumble.
Baseball
Baseball and politics have had a long history with Presidents throwing the ceremonial first pitches, notwithstanding the current President’s controversial stand to not follow the tradition. Per history.com, an American President (William Taft) is also to thank for the ritual of the seventh-inning stretch. Baseball is embedded in the psyche of America and politics is no exception as can be seen below.
“The Republican majority leader just threw a curveball to the Democrats”
Senate GOP throws healthcare curveball into tax debate”
“The Republican majority leader just threw a curveball to the Democrats”
“Her announcement that she would not be seeking re-election was such a refreshing political curveball“
“The mayor and City Council should step up to the plate and provide assistance to the residents of their city”
“It would appear that the current ruling party has, for the moment, retained its dominant position, given the equal failure of the national opposition to step up to the plate
“The primary debate stage can provide a candidate with the political home run they need to grab the attention of American voters”
“Their signature tax cuts were never the political home run they expected”.
Military Metaphors in Politics
There are “battleground” states and “political foot soldiers” that hit them, canvassing with old-fashioned door-knocking to secure votes . Political candidates “gun for each other” and “bombard the airwaves” . People and policies are often thrust into the “political firing line” as this media headline shows. Judicial races sometimes fly under voters’ radar. Election day is often referred to as “D-Day“, the day when Allied forces invaded Normandy in the second world war.
“As the world’s two biggest economies take pot-shots at each other , it’s multinationals that are are getting caught in the political firing line“.
“The President fires opening shot in trade war”
“White House fires opening salvo in budget skirmish”
“The Senate majority leader is taking flak over his decision to call Senators back to Capitol Hill after the House abruptly decided to cancel plans to do the same”
“To catch flak” is a phrase that has it’s origins in the second world war. This refers to catching criticism or taking fire (in a plane explosive shells from an antiaircraft weapon) from the enemy. Flak came into English as an abbreviation for the German word Fliegerabwehrkanone, meaning ‘aircraft-defense cannon’.