The term "game of chicken" refers to a situation in which two parties engage in an aggressive, competitive or confrontational behavior in order to force the other party into submission. It is often used metaphorically to describe situations where both sides are taking risky actions in hopes that the other will back down first. The phrase originated from the actual game of chicken played by two drivers who race towards each other on a collision course, with the aim of being the one to swerve away at the last moment and thus "winning" the game.