turf war
noun/ˈtɜːf wɔː(r)/
/ˈtɜːrf wɔːr/
- a violent situation between two groups of people who disagree about who should control a particular area, activity or business
- a vicious turf war between rival gangs of drug dealers
Word Origin1970s: from the notion of a war over turf in the informal sense ‘area regarded as personal territory’ (originally the area controlled by, for example, a street gang or criminal).Definitions on the go
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turf war