choke point
noun
: a strategic narrow route providing passage through or to another region
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Caraxes, piloted by Laenor, pivots to the archers in the surrounding dunes as Corlys, Vaemond, and their remaining soldiers march into the choke point. 
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 5 Sep. 2022 With a price cap, American officials hope to leverage the fact that Western banking, insurance and shipping companies facilitate much of Russia’s oil exports — and to use those industries as a choke point to drive down the price of Russian oil. New York Times, 27 June 2022 Many also agree the state needs to replace the 60-year-old American Legion Bridge, a chronic Beltway choke point. Katherine Shaver, Washington Post, 1 July 2022 The incident raised fears that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine could threaten traffic in the Bosporus, a choke point for global energy supplies and commerce. Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2022 In 2017, China opened its first overseas military base in Djibouti, adjacent to Somaliland, on the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a critical choke point between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Michael M. Phillips, WSJ, 1 Feb. 2022 The Beltway expansion would include a wider American Legion Bridge to replace the 60-year-old span, a notorious traffic choke point. Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2022 Millions of barrels of oil flow through the strait ever year, a choke point for global energy and commodities like food. Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2022 Semiconductors have become a particular choke point because of US firms’ dominance. Tim De Chant, Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2022 See More
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 5 Sep. 2022 With a price cap, American officials hope to leverage the fact that Western banking, insurance and shipping companies facilitate much of Russia’s oil exports — and to use those industries as a choke point to drive down the price of Russian oil. New York Times, 27 June 2022 Many also agree the state needs to replace the 60-year-old American Legion Bridge, a chronic Beltway choke point. Katherine Shaver, Washington Post, 1 July 2022 The incident raised fears that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine could threaten traffic in the Bosporus, a choke point for global energy supplies and commerce. Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2022 In 2017, China opened its first overseas military base in Djibouti, adjacent to Somaliland, on the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a critical choke point between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Michael M. Phillips, WSJ, 1 Feb. 2022 The Beltway expansion would include a wider American Legion Bridge to replace the 60-year-old span, a notorious traffic choke point. Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2022 Millions of barrels of oil flow through the strait ever year, a choke point for global energy and commodities like food. Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2022 Semiconductors have become a particular choke point because of US firms’ dominance. Tim De Chant, Ars Technica, 24 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1944, in the meaning defined above