English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Idioms: Arguments, Disagreements and Disputes -1
from: 'much ado about nothing'
to: 'call someone's bluff'
- much ado about nothing
- If people make much ado about nothing, they make a lot of fuss about something which is not important.
"A discussion took place about the colour of the receptionist's shoes - much ado about nothing!"
- If people make much ado about nothing, they make a lot of fuss about something which is not important.
- argue the toss
- If you argue the toss, you refuse to accept a decision or choice which has already been made and continue to argue about it
"The final choice was made yesterday, so don't argue the toss now!"
- If you argue the toss, you refuse to accept a decision or choice which has already been made and continue to argue about it
- all hell broke loose
- If you say that all hell broke loose, you mean that there was a sudden angry or noisy reaction to something.
"When it was announced that the plant was going to close down all hell broke loose."
- If you say that all hell broke loose, you mean that there was a sudden angry or noisy reaction to something.
- get off by back!
- If you tell someone to get off your back, you are annoyed and ask them to stop finding faults or criticizing you.
"Liz, please, get off my back! You've been making comments about my work all morning!"
- If you tell someone to get off your back, you are annoyed and ask them to stop finding faults or criticizing you.
- battle lines are drawn
- This expression is used to say that opposing groups are ready to defend the reason behind the conflict.
"The battle lines have been drawn between those who accept the changes and those who are against the proposed reforms. "
- This expression is used to say that opposing groups are ready to defend the reason behind the conflict.
- battle of wills
- A conflict, argument or struggle where the people involved refuse to accept
each other’s demands, and both sides are determined to win, is described as a battle of wills.
"When Bob and Jane separated, neither party would make concessions - it was a battle of wills."
- A conflict, argument or struggle where the people involved refuse to accept
each other’s demands, and both sides are determined to win, is described as a battle of wills.
- blamestorming
- A discussion among a group of people who try to determine who or what is to blame for
a particular mistake, failure or wrongdoing, is called 'blamestorming'.
"A blamestorming session took place following the unfavourable reviews in the press."
- A discussion among a group of people who try to determine who or what is to blame for
a particular mistake, failure or wrongdoing, is called 'blamestorming'.
- bone of contention
- A bone of contention is a matter or subject about which there is a lot of disagreement.
"The salaries have been agreed on, but opening on Sundays is still a bone of contention."
- A bone of contention is a matter or subject about which there is a lot of disagreement.
- bone to pick
- If you have a bone to pick with someone, you are annoyed with them and want
to talk to them about it.
"Mark wants to see the boss. He says he's got a bone to pick with him."
- If you have a bone to pick with someone, you are annoyed with them and want
to talk to them about it.
- in good/bad books
- If you are in somebody's good or bad books, you have their approval or disapproval.
"I'm in my wife's bad books at the moment because I forgot our wedding anniversary."
- If you are in somebody's good or bad books, you have their approval or disapproval.
- bury the hatchet
- When people who have had a disagreement decide to forget their quarrel and become friends again,
they bury the hatchet.
"I didn't agree with my colleague's decision, but for the sake of peace, I decided to bury the hatchet."
- When people who have had a disagreement decide to forget their quarrel and become friends again,
they bury the hatchet.
- call someone's bluff
- If you call someone's bluff, you challenge them to do what they threaten to do
(while believing that they will not dare to do it).
"When Jack decided to call his bluff after the next-door neighbour threatened to demolish the fence between their houses, there were no more complaints."
- If you call someone's bluff, you challenge them to do what they threaten to do
(while believing that they will not dare to do it).
More Idioms:
Arguments - Disagreements - Disputes:
Alphabetical lists:

