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blood in the water

noun

Etymology

Referring to the emergence of predators such as sharks (and possible feeding frenzy) when blood is spilled in the water.

Definitions

  1. In a competitive situation, the exhibition of apparent weakness or vulnerability by one…

    In a competitive situation, the exhibition of apparent weakness or vulnerability by one party, especially when this leads to a feeling of vulnerability or greater pressure to perform on the part of the weak party, or enhanced expectation of victory by the others.

    • But Justice won the Intuit round, and now Microsoft-baiters want to block deployment of the Microsoft Network. As a recent article in the Wall Street Journal aptly noted, competitors sense blood in the water.
    • [The] Democrats smell blood in the water. Twelve long years sitting on the sidelines. Twelve lean years. Twelve hungry years.

  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically

    Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: the result of a marine predator's attack.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for blood in the water. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA