whipsawing
WIP-saw-ing
Definition
To move back and forth violently or to be subject to rapidly alternating, conflicting forces or conditions.
Etymology
The term comes from a 'whipsaw,' a large saw originally operated by two people pulling in opposite directions. It entered English in the 17th century and later evolved to metaphorically describe any situation characterized by rapid, jarring shifts.
In the news
The article uses 'whipsawing' to describe the unstable, back-and-forth legal status of the mail-voting executive order as it bounces between court injunctions and Supreme Court rulings. This instability is critical because it leaves election officials in a state of confusion just before the midterms.
Judge again blocks Trump mail ballot executive order in ruling that’s likely to be swiftly appealed
Read the full article ↗Macomb Daily