the.com/war cry
A threat and a pep talk, screamed at the same volume.
means A shouted phrase or slogan used to rally a group and intimidate opponents before or during a fight or contest.
from Literal in origin — armies and clans genuinely shouted designated cries in battle to identify allies, terrify enemies, and pump up courage (think Scottish clan slogans or Norman battle shouts). The phrase moved into English as a straightforward compound of 'war' and 'cry,' and by the 1800s had already drifted into figurative use for any rallying slogan — political, sporting, or corporate — shouted well away from any actual battlefield.
- origin
- predates written language, probably
- function
- syncs adrenaline before syncing swords
- modern form
- sports chants, startup slogans, gym playlists
- science
- shouting actually boosts physical strength briefly