policy of pin pricks
Preserved but no longer current.
A policy of petty annoy- ances. The term came into prominence during the strained relations between England and France in 1898, and is an Anghcization of the very much older French phrase, un coup tfepingle.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “policy of pin pricks” mean?
A policy of petty annoy- ances. The term came into prominence during the strained relations between England and France in 1898, and is an Anghcization of the very much older French phrase, un coup tfepingle.
Is “policy of pin pricks” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.