running battle

English

Noun

running battle (plural running battles)

1. A fight that moves, with attacks occurring in various places.
   • 2010, Richard Hough, Denis Richards, The Battle of Britain, page 174:

     A ferocious running battle now developed between the Heinkels and their escort and the Spitfires and Hurricanes of 72, 605, 41 and 79 Squadrons.

   • 2015, Greg McLaughlin, Stephen Baker, The British Media and Bloody Sunday:

     But that's a running battle down Rossville Street!

   • 2021, Robbie MacNiven, Battle Tactics of the American Revolution, page 24:

     At the battle of Oriskany on August 6, 1777, Native American forces sprang their ambush on passing militia too soon, resulting in a ferocious running battle through surrounding woodland.

2. A conflict that continues over a long period of time, usually with periodic eruptions of fighting.
   • 2007, Belinda Brewin, Trouble Brewin - A True Story of Sex, Murder, Love and Betrayal:

     Not only did they not get on, but they also had a constant running battle which had become increasingly bitter over time.

   • 2016, Glenn Colquhoun, Late Love:

     I have fought a running battle with medicine for much of my career. I have wanted to leave it for poetry.

   • 2019, John le Carré, Agent Running in the Field:

     Prue delivers herself of a capsule account of her running battle with the barons of Big Pharma.

Further reading

• “running battle”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “running battle”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.
• “running battle”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
• “running battle” (US) / “running battle” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary.
• “running battle”, in Collins English Dictionary.