Conflict is an inherent part of human interactions. Whether it’s a minor disagreement or a full-blown dispute, conflicts can arise in various aspects of our lives.
In this listicle, we’ll explore idioms for conflict, deciphering their meanings, and showcasing how they encapsulate the essence of discord.
From “go toe to toe” to “make amends,” these idioms paint a colorful picture of the conflicts we encounter daily.
What is an idiom for conflict?
Idioms are phrases or expressions that convey meanings beyond their literal interpretation.
Idioms for conflict often symbolize the tensions, disagreements, and clashes that can occur between individuals or groups.
Let’s delve into a list of idioms related to conflict, along with their meanings and usage:
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Go toe to toe | To engage in a heated argument or confrontation with someone. | During the meeting, they went toe to toe over the budget proposal. |
| Lock horns | To engage in a fierce disagreement or conflict, often involving opposing viewpoints. | The two political leaders locked horns during the debate. |
| Clash of titans | A situation where two powerful or influential entities come into direct opposition. | The merger of the two tech giants resulted in a clash of titans. |
| Butting heads | To have frequent disagreements or conflicts with someone. | Due to their stubborn personalities, they were constantly butting heads in the workplace. |
| Battleground | A place or situation where conflicts or disputes are common. | The issue of resource allocation became a battleground for the competing departments. |
| Standoff | A situation where neither party involved in a conflict is willing to yield or compromise. | The negotiations reached a standoff as both sides refused to budge on their demands. |
| Square off | To prepare for a confrontation or conflict with someone. | The two boxers squared off in the ring, ready to face each other in a championship match. |
| War of words | A heated and argumentative exchange of words or verbal conflict. | Their political debate turned into a war of words, with both candidates trying to outdo each other. |
| Fireworks | A situation where intense emotions or conflicts erupt. | When the controversial decision was announced, it sparked fireworks among the passionate supporters. |
| Slugfest | A prolonged and fierce conflict or argument. | The negotiations turned into a slugfest, with both parties unwilling to back down. |
| Tug of war | A situation where two opposing forces or parties struggle for control or dominance. | The tug of war between management and employees over work hours continued for weeks. |
| Cross swords | To engage in a verbal or physical conflict with someone. | He chose to cross swords with the critic who had given his movie a scathing review. |
| Run-in | A minor conflict or argument, often resulting from a disagreement or misunderstanding. | They had a run-in at the party when they accidentally spilled a drink on each other. |
| Feud | A long-standing and bitter conflict or rivalry between individuals, families, or groups. | The feud between the two families had been ongoing for generations, with no end in sight. |
| Rumble | A noisy and violent fight or conflict. | The bar turned into chaos when a rumble broke out between two groups of patrons. |
| Duel | A formal or planned fight or contest between two individuals, often to settle a dispute. | In the old days, duels were used to resolve personal conflicts with honor. |
| Grind one’s gears | To irritate or annoy someone, often by one’s actions or words. | His constant interruptions during the meeting really grind my gears. |
| Hit a nerve | To say or do something that triggers a strong emotional response in someone. | Her comments about his past mistakes hit a nerve, leading to a heated argument. |
| Push one’s buttons | To intentionally provoke or irritate someone by targeting their sensitivities or triggers. | He knew exactly how to push her buttons and provoke her during their disagreements. |
| Walking on eggshells | To be cautious and avoid causing conflict or tension in a sensitive situation. | After their recent argument, they were both walking on eggshells, trying to keep the peace. |
| Knock heads together | To bring two parties in conflict together in an attempt to resolve their differences. | The manager had to knock heads together to get the two teams to cooperate on the project. |
| Break the ice | To initiate a conversation or action to ease tension and start a friendly interaction. | He told a joke to break the ice and lighten the mood in the room. |
| Break a deadlock | To find a solution or compromise to resolve a situation where no progress is being made. | The mediator helped the two parties break the deadlock and reach an agreement. |
| Clear the air | To address and resolve misunderstandings or conflicts to restore a peaceful atmosphere. | They decided to have an open conversation to clear the air and improve their relationship. |
| Call it quits | To decide to stop or end a conflict, disagreement, or relationship. | After years of arguing, they finally decided to call it quits and go their separate ways. |
| Make amends | To take actions to repair or reconcile a relationship or situation after a conflict. | She apologized and tried to make amends with her friend after their falling-out. |
Conflict is like a storm brewing on the horizon, with tension building up like dark clouds before a downpour. For more comparisons to describe conflict, you can click on this link: Similes for conflict. And for a variety of metaphors related to conflict, you can explore this link: Metaphors for conflict.
Idioms for Conflict
1. Go toe to toe
Meaning: To engage in a heated argument or confrontation with someone.
In a Sentence: During the meeting, they went toe to toe over the budget proposal, each defending their own ideas.
2. Lock horns
Meaning: To engage in a fierce disagreement or conflict, often involving opposing viewpoints.
In a Sentence: The two political leaders locked horns during the debate, unable to find common ground.
3. Clash of titans
Meaning: A situation where two powerful or influential entities come into direct opposition.
In a Sentence: The merger of the two tech giants resulted in a clash of titans, causing ripples in the industry.
4. Butting heads
Meaning: To have frequent disagreements or conflicts with someone.
In a Sentence: Due to their stubborn personalities, they were constantly butting heads in the workplace.
5. Battleground
Meaning: A place or situation where conflicts or disputes are common.
In a Sentence: The issue of resource allocation became a battleground for the competing departments.
6. Standoff
Meaning: A situation where neither party involved in a conflict is willing to yield or compromise.
In a Sentence: The negotiations reached a standoff as both sides refused to budge on their demands.
7. Square off
Meaning: To prepare for a confrontation or conflict with someone.
In a Sentence: The two boxers squared off in the ring, ready to face each other in a championship match.
8. War of words
Meaning: A heated and argumentative exchange of words or verbal conflict.
In a Sentence: Their political debate turned into a war of words, with both candidates trying to outdo each other.
9. Fireworks
Meaning: A situation where intense emotions or conflicts erupt.
In a Sentence: When the controversial decision was announced, it sparked fireworks among the passionate supporters.
10. Slugfest
Meaning: A prolonged and fierce conflict or argument.
In a Sentence: The negotiations turned into a slugfest, with both parties unwilling to back down.
11. Tug of war
Meaning: A situation where two opposing forces or parties struggle for control or dominance.
In a Sentence: The tug of war between management and employees over work hours continued for weeks.
12. Cross swords
Meaning: To engage in a verbal or physical conflict with someone.
In a Sentence: He chose to cross swords with the critic who had given his movie a scathing review.
13. Run-in
Meaning: A minor conflict or argument, often resulting from a disagreement or misunderstanding.
In a Sentence: They had a run-in at the party when they accidentally spilled a drink on each other.
14. Feud
Meaning: A long-standing and bitter conflict or rivalry between individuals, families, or groups.
In a Sentence: The feud between the two families had been ongoing for generations, with no end in sight.
15. Rumble
Meaning: A noisy and violent fight or conflict.
In a Sentence: The bar turned into chaos when a rumble broke out between two groups of patrons.
16. Duel
Meaning: A formal or planned fight or contest between two individuals, often to settle a dispute.
In a Sentence: In the old days, duels were used to resolve personal conflicts with honor.
17. Grind one’s gears
Meaning: To irritate or annoy someone, often by one’s actions or words.
In a Sentence: His constant interruptions during the meeting really grind my gears.
18. Hit a nerve
Meaning: To say or do something that triggers a strong emotional response in someone.
In a Sentence: Her comments about his past mistakes hit a nerve, leading to a heated argument.
19. Push one’s buttons
Meaning: To intentionally provoke or irritate someone by targeting their sensitivities or triggers.
In a Sentence: He knew exactly how to push her buttons and provoke her during their disagreements.
20. Walking on eggshells
Meaning: To be cautious and avoid causing conflict or tension in a sensitive situation.
In a Sentence: After their recent argument, they were both walking on eggshells, trying to keep the peace.
21. Knock heads together
Meaning: To bring two parties in conflict together in an attempt to resolve their differences.
In a Sentence: The manager had to knock heads together to get the two teams to cooperate on the project.
22. Break the ice
Meaning: To initiate a conversation or action to ease tension and start a friendly interaction.
In a Sentence: He told a joke to break the ice and lighten the mood in the room.
23. Break a deadlock
Meaning: To find a solution or compromise to resolve a situation where no progress is being made.
In a Sentence: The mediator helped the two parties break the deadlock and reach an agreement.
24. Clear the air
Meaning: To address and resolve misunderstandings or conflicts to restore a peaceful atmosphere.
In a Sentence: They decided to have an open conversation to clear the air and improve their relationship.
25. Call it quits
Meaning: To decide to stop or end a conflict, disagreement, or relationship.
In a Sentence: After years of arguing, they finally decided to call it quits and go their separate ways.
26. Make amends
Meaning: To take actions to repair or reconcile a relationship or situation after a conflict.
In a Sentence: She apologized and tried to make amends with her friend after their falling-out.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Quiz 1:
Question: What does the idiom “Lock horns” mean?
- To have a physical fight.
- To engage in a fierce disagreement or conflict.
- To lock up valuable possessions.
Answer: 2. To engage in a fierce disagreement or conflict.
Quiz 2:
Question: What is the meaning of the phrase “Tug of war”?
- A friendly competition.
- A situation where two opposing forces struggle for control or dominance.
- A maritime activity.
Answer: 2. A situation where two opposing forces struggle for control or dominance.
Quiz 3:
Question: When might someone use the expression “Grind one’s gears”?
- To describe a soothing experience.
- To irritate or annoy someone, often by one’s actions or words.
- To share a meal with friends.
Answer: 2. To irritate or annoy someone, often by one’s actions or words.
Quiz 4:
Question: What does the idiom “Clear the air” imply?
- To create a breeze.
- To address and resolve misunderstandings or conflicts to restore a peaceful atmosphere.
- To discuss the weather.
Answer: 2. To address and resolve misunderstandings or conflicts to restore a peaceful atmosphere.
Quiz 5:
Question: What is the meaning of the phrase “Run-in”?
- A casual encounter with a friend.
- A minor conflict or argument, often resulting from a disagreement or misunderstanding.
- A marathon race.
Answer: 2. A minor conflict or argument, often resulting from a disagreement or misunderstanding.
Quiz 6:
Question: What does the idiom “Cross swords” signify?
- To engage in a physical duel.
- To engage in a verbal or physical conflict with someone.
- To play a sport involving swords.
Answer: 2. To engage in a verbal or physical conflict with someone.
Quiz 7:
Question: When might someone feel like they are “Walking on eggshells”?
- When they are taking a leisurely walk.
- When they are cautious and avoid causing conflict or tension in a sensitive situation.
- When they are dancing.
Answer: 2. When they are cautious and avoid causing conflict or tension in a sensitive situation.
Quiz 8:
Question: What is the meaning of the phrase “Make amends”?
- To take actions to repair or reconcile a relationship or situation after a conflict.
- To make money through investments.
- To win a competition.
Answer: 1. To take actions to repair or reconcile a relationship or situation after a conflict.
Quiz 9:
Question: When might someone use the expression “Fireworks”?
- To describe a peaceful and calm situation.
- To describe a situation where intense emotions or conflicts erupt.
- To describe a fireworks display.
Answer: 2. To describe a situation where intense emotions or conflicts erupt.
Quiz 10:
Question: What does the idiom “Break a deadlock” imply?
- To take a break during a sports game.
- To find a solution or compromise to resolve a situation where no progress is being made.
- To physically break a lock.
Answer: 2. To find a solution or compromise to resolve a situation where no progress is being made.
Conclusion
These idioms for conflict offer a glimpse into the diverse ways language can capture the complexities of disagreements, disputes, and rivalries. From the vivid imagery of “lock horns” to the determination to “make amends,” these expressions reflect the universal human experiences of conflict and resolution.
