필리핀어학연수 유학기업 필자닷컴

ARGUMENTS - CONFLICTS IDIOMS

이름 : jilo
작성일 : 2012-05-24
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English Idioms relating to
ARGUMENTS - CONFLICTS - DISAGREEMENTS - DISCONTENTMENT

English Idioms relating to ARGUMENTS - CONFLICTS - DISAGREEMENTS - DISCONTENTMENT
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 dispute a decision or choice which has already been made. "The final choice was made yesterday, so don't argue the toss now! "
All hell broke loose	To say that all hell broke loose means that there was a sudden angry, noisy reaction to something. " All hell broke loose when it was announced that the plant was going to close down."
Get off my back!	If you tell somebody to get off your back, you ask them to stop finding faults or criticizing you.
The 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."
Battle of wills	A conflict, argument or struggle where both sides are determined to win is described as a battle of wills. "When they separated, neither party would make concessions - it was 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."
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 remains a bone of contention."
Have a bone to pick with someone	To say that you have a bone to pick with somebody means that you are annoyed with them and want to talk to them about it.
In somebody's 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!"
Bury the hatchet	The expression " bury the hatchet" is used when people who have had a disagreement decide to forget their quarrel and become friends again. "I don't get on well with my mother-in-law, but to keep my wife happy, I decided to 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). "After the neighbour's threats to demolish the fence, when Jack decided to call his bluff, there were no more complaints."
Cat-and-dog life	This term refers to a life in which partners are constantly or frequently quarrelling. "They lead a cat-and-dog life. I don't know why they stay together."
Caught in the crossfire	If you are caught in the crossfire, you suffer the effects of an argument between two people or groups. "When the two taxi drivers started to argue, their passengers were caught in the crossfire."
Clear the air	If you decide to clear the air, you try to remove the causes of fear, worry or suspicion by talking about them openly. "The atmosphere had become so unpleasant that he decided it was time to clear the air."
Dead set against something	If you are dead set against something, you are strongly opposed to it. "My father wanted a dog, but my mother was dead set against the idea."
Devil's advocate	During a discussion or debate, if you play devil's advocate, you pretend to be against an idea or plan in order to determine the validity of the arguments in favour of it. "She decided to play devil's advocate just to see how strongly people felt about the project."
Fight/argue like cat and dog	Two people who fight or argue like cat and dog frequently have violent arguments, even though they are fond of each other. "They fight like cat and dog but they're still together after 30 years."
Go against the tide (or stream)	If you go against the tide, you refuse to conform to current trends, or the opinions or behaviour of other people. "Bill can be difficult to work with; he constantly goes against the tide."
Hammer and tongs	If people are going at it hammer and tongs, they are arguing fiercely, with a lot of energy and noise. "Our neighbours are going at it hammer and tongs again. They're constantly arguing!"
Let bygones be bygones	If you let bygones be bygones, you decide to forget about past disagreements. "When Charlie's son was born, he decided to let bygones be bygones and contacted his parents."
Let sleeping dogs lie	If you tell somebody to let sleeping dogs lie, you are asking them not to interfere with a situation because they could cause problems. "Look - they've settled their differences. It's time to let sleeping dogs lie."
At loggerheads	If you are at loggerheads with a person or organization, you disagree very strongly with them. "Management and trade unions are at loggerheads over the decision to close down the plant."
Lock horns	If you lock horns with somebody, you argue or fight with them about something. "If there is another incident like that in the building, the occupants will be locking horns!"
No love lost	To say that there is no love lost between two people means that they do not like each other at all. "There is no love lost between Amanda and Sarah. They're always quarrelling."
Make a mountain out of a molehill	If someone makes a mountain out of a molehill, they make a small, unimportant problem seem much more serious than it is. "Stop making mountains out of molehills! It's not a major problem."
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."
Nothing doing!	This expression is used to say that there is no way you would accept to do what is proposed. . "Work on Sunday? Nothing doing!"
At odds	If one person is at odds with another, they disagree with each other.
Olive branch	If a person or organization 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 can't afford it."
Over my dead body	This expression is used when you absolutely refuse to allow someone to do something. "Mum, can I get my 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 is always ready to pick a fight with someone."
Pick holes	If someone picks holes in something such as a plan, an idea or an argument, 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 had been unfaithful, she sent him packing."
Settle a score	To settle a score means to retaliate against someone or take revenge for a past wrong. "Jack has made an appointment with his lawyer - he has a score to settle with someone."
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."
Keep your shirt on!	If you tell somebody to keep their shirt on, you are asking them to calm down. "Keep your shirt on Bob. Just give your version of the story!"
Sink their differences	If people or organizations 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 on 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."
Split hairs	If you split hairs, you pay too much attention to differences that are very small or not important. "If we start splitting hairs, we'll never reach an agreement!"
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."
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."