Mutually Assured Destruction is where two parties end up destroying each other in the end. This can happen at the end of narcissistic relationships
David and I's relationship devolved to a platform of mutually assured destruction. He nearly took my life, so I made sure to destroy his reputation. He took my money, so I took his. He cheated on me, so I cheated on him. We were both nearly destroyed by the end.
by Siouxsie Supertramp November 07, 2023
Basically a Mexican standoff between prominent countries that possess nuclear weapons and have different polictical agendas. Causes the entire world to be gripped in a sort of doomsday fatalism. Also results in peace talks to boil down to a pissing match in which each side takes a "I'll-throw-down-my-gun-if-you-throw-down-your-gun-first" attitude.
In "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" the apes may have survived if they had thier own nukes. The mutant humans wouldn't have used thier nuke because of fear of mutually assured destruction. Which didn't matter anyway, because they all ended up dead, like a bunch of pork rinds.
by Pigeon McNugget October 08, 2003
A term expressing an expectation of reciprocity. If event A happens, then event B will certainly follow. Most commonly used in the phrase "mutually assured destruction," which posits that the best defense against a nuclear-based attack is the threat of a "mutually assured" retaliatory nuclear-based attack...although the term can be applied to events less earth-shakingly catastrophic.
"If I go down on you, it damn well better be mutually assured that you'll be sucking my cock afterwards."
by lexicographer September 15, 2003
by teddyK September 14, 2003
The idea that when two hyper-competitive people or organizations decide to directly advertise against one another the firsts move will elicit a response from the second that will begin a series of escalations in marketing expenditures beyond what would be reasonable in an efficient free market to the point of bankruptcy for both people or organizations. The term comes from the Cold War-era term Mutually Assured Destruction.
McDonald's and Burger King were so concerned with market share with the Big Mac and Whopper that they lost sight of the button line and in an effort to one-up the other in marketing dollars and thus market share, they are both now doomed. It is mutually assured bankruptcy.
by Fat Aaron January 13, 2020