An arm race is a term used to describe an intense competition between two or more parties, in which each tries to outdo the other by obtaining or developing increasingly better weapons, technology, or resources. This term originated during the Cold War when both the United States and Soviet Union engaged in a military build-up of their armed forces, trying to surpass one another's capabilities through advancements in weaponry such as missiles, submarines, and aircraft. The phrase "arm race" is also used metaphorically to describe any situation where two or more parties engage in an escalating competition for superiority, often resulting in a waste of resources.