battle with magic; vie with trickery
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
battle with sorcery; use magic against each other
literaryLiteral meaning, used in classical Chinese literature and fantasy contexts to describe supernatural duels.
In 'Journey to the West', Sun Wukong often battles demons with magic.
The two Taoist masters battled with sorcery on the mountain, summoning rolling thunder.
verb
engage in a battle of wits; vie with scheming
neutralFigurative meaning, commonly used to describe covert power struggles, political maneuvering, or cunning competition in various fields.
The two companies are openly and covertly competing, constantly vying with trickery to capture market share.
The power struggles within officialdom often involve no visible conflict, yet are exceptionally fierce.
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The two lawyers engaged in a battle of wits in the courtroom, citing various legal statutes in their arguments.