partisan weapon

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "partisan weapon" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It refers to something or someone that is used to further a particular political agenda or support a particular group or cause. Example: The politician's use of fake news proved to be a powerful partisan weapon in swaying public opinion.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

It's a partisan weapon.

The New York Times

Tax policy is not just an economic tool; it's a partisan weapon.

The New York Times

They had no intention of letting their partisan weapon fall into Republican hands.

The New York Times - Magazine

Brooke said that he and Chalabi hit upon a notion that, he admitted, was "naked politics": the I.N.C.'s disastrous history of foiled C.I.A. operations under the Clinton Administration could be turned into a partisan weapon for the Republicans.

The New Yorker

It appears that transparency lends itself equally to being both a tool of democracy or a partisan weapon.

TechCrunch

Resolutions of inquiry have increasingly become a partisan weapon wielded by the House minority party, a Congressional Research Service report found.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The proposals are mainly designed to tantalize voters and to serve as partisan weapons the two parties can aim at each other.

The New York Times

The first part of the paper addresses fiscal policy rules by analyzing their political appeal as restrainers, symbols, partisan weapons, and ideological statements.

The Social Science Journal

This means that once a donor has given a candidate the maximum $5,000 allowed under law, the candidate could ask for thousands more to be donated to an "independent" Super PAC that everyone knows to be an aggressively partisan election weapon.

The New York Times

In an election in which warring blogs, talk radio and 24-hour cable news opinionators blur the news, the Living Room Candidate is a state-of-the-art site that provides an old-fashioned, impartial and lingering look at the most partisan and quicksilver weapon in politics.

The New York Times

The invention of social caricature (by Bernini, it seems, in the seventeenth century) domesticated grotesquerie as an easy means for jollity at others' expense and, when admixed with politics, as a weapon of partisan umbrage.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "partisan weapon" to describe a policy, action, or rhetoric intentionally used to gain advantage over political opponents.

Common error

Avoid using "partisan weapon" when describing generally accepted political strategies or tools. It is most appropriate when highlighting a controversial or overtly aggressive political tactic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "partisan weapon" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. As confirmed by Ludwig, it commonly refers to a tool or strategy employed to gain political advantage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

12%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "partisan weapon" is a noun phrase used to describe something employed to gain political advantage, often with a negative connotation, suggesting aggressive and divisive tactics. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical structure is correct and its use is consistent across various contexts, primarily in news and media. While not exceptionally frequent, the phrase is well-understood and effectively communicates the idea of a tool or strategy used for political combat. Use it thoughtfully to convey criticism or highlight the adversarial nature of politics.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

political tool

Emphasizes the use of something as an instrument in politics, shifting from a combative connotation to a more neutral one.

ideological instrument

Highlights the role of ideology in wielding the instrument, focusing on belief systems rather than political parties.

political maneuver

This term emphasizes the tactical aspect and suggests a calculated move in the political arena.

campaign strategy

Refers specifically to methods used during a campaign. This alternative focuses on the broader strategy instead of a single tool.

election tactic

Emphasizes the use of something specifically during an election, limiting the context compared to "partisan weapon".

propaganda technique

Focuses specifically on the use of propaganda, a subset of partisan tools. This refers to the method of spreading information rather than a broad weapon.

political football

Suggests something being tossed around and debated for political gain, a more figurative interpretation.

point of contention

Highlights the divisive nature of the issue, changing the focus from the weapon itself to the conflict it creates.

divisive issue

Focuses on the capacity to divide, rather than the active use of something as a weapon.

source of political conflict

Identifies the root cause of disagreement, shifting away from the direct action implied by "weapon".

FAQs

How is "partisan weapon" used in a sentence?

You can use "partisan weapon" to describe anything from a policy to a statement that is used to attack political opponents. For instance, "Tax policy became a "partisan weapon" during the debate".

What is another way to say "partisan weapon"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "political tool", "election tactic", or "ideological instrument".

When is it appropriate to use the term "partisan weapon"?

Use "partisan weapon" when you want to emphasize the aggressive or divisive nature of a political tactic. It implies that something is being used specifically to harm or undermine a political opponent.

What distinguishes "partisan weapon" from a regular political strategy?

While a political strategy aims to achieve a goal, a "partisan weapon" is wielded with the explicit intent to undermine or defeat an opponent. The connotation of "weapon" implies a more adversarial and potentially unethical approach.