flankthe

Flankthe is a term used in strategic discussions and some gaming communities to describe a maneuver that targets the flank of an opponent’s position while the main force holds the center or advances along a separate axis. The word functions as both a noun and a verb: a flankthe refers to the maneuver itself, and to flankthe a position means to execute such a maneuver.

Origins of the term are informal, with its earliest appearances found in hobbyist glossaries and strategy forums from the 2010s onward. It is not part of formal military doctrine or official strategic literature, and its exact etymology varies by user and context. In many cases, flankthe is used as a shorthand for “attack the side” rather than a precise, codified method.

In practice, flankthe appears in tabletop wargaming, digital strategy games, and simulations as a technique to disrupt an opponent’s lines by maneuvering a force to its side or rear, often to threaten supply routes, create confusion, or force rapid redeployments. In business and competitive contexts, the term is used metaphorically to describe entering a market segment where competitors are less focused, thereby applying pressure from a secondary axis.

Variants and related terms include flank the enemy, flanking, and envelopment. The concept relies on mobility, timing, and knowing when an opponent is committed to a front assault rather than a flank.

See also: flanking, pincer movement, envelopment, lateral thinking.