X
Well attestedNamed from the place

Nixon in China

noun · first attested late 20th century

The man who built a career on anti communism was the one who could shake Mao's hand.

A move available only to a politician whose record shields him from attack by his own side.

Another word
Open on the atlas

Record

Relationship
Named from the place
Confidence
Well attestedThe place link is the standard scholarly account.
Attested
late 20th century
Part of speech
noun
Sources
Wiktionary: Nixon in ChinaWikidata: Q148

Explanations here are written for this atlas. Dictionary text is not copied; the sources are linked so the claim can be checked.

How it traveled
  1. Step 1

    People's Republic of China

  2. In English

    Nixon in China

The entry

Nixon had spent twenty five years as one of the most aggressive anti communists in American politics, so his visit to Beijing in February 1972 could not easily be called softness. The idea is usually put as only Nixon could go to China. The phrasing spread further after Star Trek VI in 1991 gave it to a Vulcan character as an old proverb.

Also pinned to People's Republic of China

7 more from the same place

camisa de chinoThe national dress of the Philippines is worn over a shirt named for Chinese laborers.People's Republic of ChinaChina syndromeAn engineers' joke about digging to China became the name of a real fear twelve days before Three Mile Island.People's Republic of ChinaChinadomBefore Chinatown settled into English, American writers tried Chinadom.People's Republic of ChinaChinatownThe word was coined in California before it was ever used of London or Sydney.People's Republic of ChinaChinese dragonIt is a rain spirit with a hare's eyes, not a fire-breathing lizard.People's Republic of Chinahave more chins than a Chinese phone bookThe joke only works for a reader who knows Chin is a common Chinese surname.People's Republic of Chinahave more chins than ChinatownMost English speakers met this phrase through a hit parody single.People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China

13 more words from People's Republic of China

All 21 entries
cashmereThe wool is Kashmir, spelled the old English way.KashmirshanghaiThe verb is named for a port, not for a method invented there alone.ShanghaichinaThe teacup is named for the country that made porcelain famous in Europe.JingdezhenkaolinThe clay behind porcelain is named for a hill in Jiangxi.JingdezhennankeenThe yellow cotton is named for Nanjing.NanjingXanaduThe dream palace was a real Mongol capital.ShangdusatinThe cloth is usually traced to a Chinese port's Arabic name.QuanzhouPeking duckThe dish carries the older English spelling of Beijing.Beijing
Nearest pins
wuhanic acidWuhan, People's Republic of China1,165 kmPeking duckBeijing, People's Republic of China1,222 kmBeijing bikiniBeijing, People's Republic of China1,222 kmXanaduShangdu, People's Republic of China1,314 km