a war of nerves

Meaning

1. an attempt to defeat your opponents by putting pressure on them so that they lose courage or confidence

From the same entry

• have been in the wars
• a war of words
• all's fair in love and war
• the be - all and end - all
• as was
• been and done
• if it wasn't for
• leave be
• - to - be
• is what it is
• the bee's knees
• have a bee in your bonnet