A **Cold War metaphor** refers to the use of language and rhetorical tropes to describe the ideological, geopolitical, and strategic tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union (and its successor states) during the Cold War era, often invoking the themes of a prolonged, ideologically charged conflict without direct military engagement. This metaphorical expression is used to convey the pervasive, often covert, competition and rivalry between the two superpowers, which influenced global affairs and regional conflicts. It can also be extended to describe contemporary analogous situations characterized by similar tensions and strategic competitions between nations.