English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions 

Idioms: Arguments, Disagreements and Disputes-3,
from: 'a moot point'   to:  'wipe the slate clean'

• a moot point
  • A subject which gives rise to argument or debate is called a moot point.
    "Whether Bach composed it himself or not is a moot point among musicians."
    
    
• not on my watch
  • When someone says ‘not on my watch', they mean that they will not allow something to happen while they are in charge, responsible, or on the lookout.
    (This expression comes from the military or naval sense of ‘watch’, meaning a period of vigil on land or at sea.)
    "I think he intends to leave his caravan in our car park.” “Not on my watch!"
    
    
• nothing doing!
  • This term means that there is no way you would accept to do what is proposed.
    "Work on Sunday? Nothing doing!"
    
    
• at odds (with someone)
  • If one person is at odds with another, they disagree with each other.
    "Sam is at odds with his father over the purchase of a new tractor."
    
    
• olive branch
  • If a person or organisation holds out an olive branch to another, they show that they want to end a disagreement and make peace.
    "The protesters finally accepted the olive branch extended to them."
    
    
• out of the question
  • Something which is out of the question is impossible and is therefore not worth discussing.
    "Buying a new car is out of the question - we simply can't afford it."
    
    
• over my dead body!
  • This expression is used by someone who absolutely refuses to allow someone to do something.
    "Mum, can I get by nose pierced?"  "Over my dead body!"
    
    
• pick a fight
  • Someone who picks a fight deliberately looks for an opportunity to start a quarrel or begin an argument.
    "Our new neighbour seizes every occasion to pick a fight."
    
    
• pick holes
  • If someone picks holes in something such as a plan, an idea or a proposal, they criticize it or try to find fault with it.
    "Why don't you make a suggestion instead of picking holes in all my ideas!"
    
    
• press something home
  • If you press something home, you insist on a point in a discussion or argument.
    "Her lawyer kept pressing home the fact that she was a single mother."
    
    
• a running battle
  • If two people or groups have a running battle with each other, they argue or disagree about something over a long period of time.
    "There's been a running battle between the local authorities and the population over the school bus route."
    
    
• send someone packing
  • If you send someone packing, you tell them to leave, in a very forceful and unfriendly way.
    "When Amanda discovered that Jack was unfaithful, she sent him packing."
    
    
• shouting match
  • An argument or debate where people shout loudly at each other is called a shouting match.
    "The debate between the two politicians turned into a shouting match which spoiled the event for viewers."
    
    
• sink one's differences
  • If people or organisations sink their differences, they decide to forget their disagreements.
    "We must sink our differences and build a peaceful community."
    
    
• sit on the fence
  • If you sit on the fence, you avoid taking sides in a discussion or argument.
    "It's an important issue. You can't continue to sit on the fence!"
    
    
• skating in thin ice
  • If you are skating on thin ice, you are doing or saying something that could cause disagreement or trouble.
    "Don't mention that subject during the negotiations or you could be skating on thin ice."
    
    
• a sore point
  • A sore point is a subject to be avoided because it causes anger, disagreement or embarrassment.
    "Don't mention diets to Emily. That's a sore point! She's been trying to lose weight since the baby was born."
    
    
• speak/argue until you are blue in the face
  • This expression refers to talking or arguing until you are totally exhausted (blue in the face) without achieving the result you want, for example trying, unsuccessfully, to persuade someone to do something. Your efforts are therefore useless or have no effect.
    "I tried to convince Tony until I was blue in the face, but he still refused to join the team.”
    
    
• split hairs
  • If you split hairs, you pay too much attention to differences that are very small or unimportant.
    "If we start splitting hairs, we'll never reach an agreement."
    
    
• wash one's dirty linen in public
  • To wash one's dirty linen in public means to talk or argue in the presence of others about unpleasant matters that should remain private.
    "Argue in private.  Don't wash your dirty linen in public.' was my grandmother's advice."
    
    
• water under the bridge
  • If something difficult or unpleasant took place in the past but is no longer important, it is referred to as water under the bridge.
    "They had a serious disagreement in the past, but that's water under the bridge today."
    
    
• wipe the slate clean
  • If you wipe the slate clean, you make a fresh start and forget all past offences, disagreements or mistakes.
    "When their father died, Bob and his brother decided to wipe the slate clean and forget the old family quarrels."