a battle of wills

a battle of wills

A competition in which opposing sides are unrelenting in their attempts to achieve a particular outcome. Each refusing to compromise, the husband and wife entered into a battle of wills as they attempted to negotiate their divorce settlement.
See also: battle, of, will
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a battle of wills

If an argument or conflict is a battle of wills, the person with the strongest beliefs or personality will win. It was a battle of wills, and Grace's was the stronger. All that was left was a mutual struggle, a battle of wills, which became totally exhausting.
See also: battle, of, will
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a battle of ˈwills

a competition, an argument or a struggle where each side is very determined to win: Annie and Phil were engaged in a silent battle of wills, each refusing to leave.
See also: battle, of, will
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • play (someone) off against (someone)
  • play both ends
  • play both ends against the middle
  • play both sides against the middle
  • play each end against the other
  • play each side against the other
  • play off against
  • play one against another
  • play one end against the other
  • play one side against the other
References in periodicals archive
It was a battle of wills and, in the end, we just wanted it more than England."
WE FOUGHT FOR IT MORE
Directed with knowing style by Nick Stoller (who made Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him To The Greek), it starts with pranks but escalates to a battle of wills.
Movers and haters; Crude laughs with neighbours at war BAD NEIGHBOURS 15, 97mins. Just opened
Wills can cause the rejection of religion (The Wild Irish Girl), cause vicarious enjoyment (Trollope's Palliser novels), delineate properties and legacies (Uncle Silas), identify race and impose illegitimacy (Daniel Deronda), create a battle of wills (The Strange Case of Dr.
Troubled legacies; narrative and inheritance
Talking about the sketch, part of a show celebrating ITV's 50th anniversary, an insider said: 'They have a battle of wills which escalates into physical violence.
Church versus Miss Piggy in diva war
It wasn't a battle of wills for Ian Woosnam yesterday, more like a battle of winds, writes PETER SHUTTLEWORTH.
WOOSIE BATTLES GALES
But the French World Cup winner couldn't have been more truthful about the Englishman who won credit for the depth of his determination in a battle of wills and physical strength.
Football: Thuram: I'll be glad to see back of big Sutton