Let's Have a Pissing Contest

[sshg_ninja]

Hello all!

American here married to a Brit, but this particular question eludes him, so here I am.

Would a British person say "pissing contest" to mean a battle of wills with another person/thing?

For example: The Department of Magical Law Enforcement and the Department of Mysteries got into a jurisdictional pissing contest.

Any help is much

Comments

[welshgirl15]

I've never heard that phrase used before. I'm not quite sure what an alternative would be either :/

[sshg_ninja]

Thank you. <3

[sollersuk]

I've come across the expression, but only in American contexts. I can't think of any real equivalent.

[sshg_ninja]

Thank you. <3 Now I just need to think of something to replace it with. >_>

[myfirstkitchen]

I've heard it, but mostly in American or extremely recent contexts (i.e. where people are explicitly borrowing US slang). We'd know what it meant, but it's not common.

[sshg_ninja]

Thank you. <3

[cluelesschase]

I've certainly heard of it, but I'm young, so (Y)

Alternatives could be 'Game of one-upmanship' or 'tug-of-war'?

[sshg_ninja]

Thank you, that's helpful!

[starlight_x_a_x]

See I agree I've heard of this and I'm young, not sure where from, but defintely familar however I've not come across the two alternatives used in this context either.

[thekumquat]

It sounds modern and American to me, but then many crude expressions are blamed for being American whether they are or not (dick-sizing and willy-waving are the other two that come to mind - are they used in America?)

I'd say something like the two Depts were fighting for territory like dogs over a bone. Or toddlers over a toy.

[sshg_ninja]

Yeah I have never heard those ever, and we don't refer to the penis as a "willy" unless we're purposefully sounding European.

Thanks for the help and the suggestions. <3