Explain · Like I'm five version
The Cold War in terms of two neighbours arguing over a hedge
The Cold War was just like two neighbours who hated each other but were too scared to ever have a proper punch-up.
Imagine Mr Smith and Mr Jones live next door and keep arguing about the height of their hedge. Mr Smith decides to buy a huge pile of garden tools to show he is the boss, so Mr Jones quickly rushes out to buy an even bigger lawnmower. They stand on their own sides of the fence, shouting grumpy words and glaring at each other through the leaves, but they never actually touch the hedge because they know it would only end in a big, messy disaster.
Instead of fighting, they spend all their pocket money on making their own gardens look fancier and more intimidating. Mr Smith builds a shed taller than any shed ever seen, and Mr Jones builds a fountain that sprays water twice as high just to prove he has more gadgets. They spend years trying to impress the people on the other street, making sure everyone knows their way of planting petunias is the only right way, all while keeping a very sharp eye on what the other person is doing.
Eventually, they both run out of steam and realise that acting like grumpy giants is just very silly. The tension stays in the air like a bad smell, but the garden stays standing and no one gets a scratch. They keep their distance and grumble under their breath, knowing that as long as they keep their hands in their pockets, they can at least stay safe in their own little backyards.
Where the analogy breaks downThe Cold War involved many other countries choosing sides, rather than just two people in a garden.