siege mentality

siege mentality

The belief that one is constantly under attack and must protect oneself from hostility. Don't be surprised if Ned reacts to you with anger—he has a siege mentality that makes it difficult for him to see anything positively. Many people living in that war-torn country have developed a siege mentality.
See also: mentality, siege
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • be in hot water
  • wash (one's) hands of (someone or something)
  • wash hands of
  • wash one's hands of
  • wash your hands of
  • wash your hands of somebody/something
  • wash your hands of something/someone
  • for (one's) (own) sake
  • for sake
  • keep in sight
References in periodicals archive
"The siege mentality created around the club from August onwards is amazing and every point is a prisoner to them.
REDS' SIEGE MENTALITY Klopp says he won't allow his team to be distracted by their critics
While all peripheral countries are growing by leaps and bounds, Pakistan is engrossed in a siege mentality. To avoid being isolated, Islamabad should promote national harmony, and find itself a place as a soft power with democracy as a beacon.
But you need to get the players to have that siege mentality to try and get results and to turn it into a positive.
"The desire and mentality was there and I think you've seen, as a group of players and staff, a siege mentality - and we're going to have to have that as a football club because it's going to be us against the world because it's not going to get any easier.
"For us, it is about turning the belief and confi-dence we have and our own internal perception into a bit of a siege mentality. That can often benefit teams when you come over to the southern hemisphere because history is against you.
"For us, it is about turning the belief and confidence we have and our own internal perception into a bit of a siege mentality. That can often benefit teams when you come over to the southern hemisphere because history is against you.
Brabin hopes fans will buy into the siege mentality he is seeking to build around the team.
Adam Armstrong admits there is a siege mentality within the Newcastle United camp as they look to bring an end to their woeful form.
While talking to reporters outside the Parliament House here, he said that by terming the MQM workers living corpses, Khan has crossed all limits, which exposed his siege mentality.
HARTLEPOOL boss John Hughes has called on Simon Walton to adopt a siege mentality in order to win over his doubters.
They came out fighting in the right way, showed the right kind of siege mentality and produced a really promising performance.
Live football Sky Sports 2, 7.45pm ONE sign of a great football manager is being able to create a siege mentality out of absolutely nothing, writes James Milton.
AT the end of another week of turmoil, Liverpool kept their season alive by drawing on the siege mentality that - earlier in seas sieg the campaign - had threatened to derail them.
It was a siege mentality when things were going against us."