Listen to the author reading this blog post:
The English language contains a lot of idioms and phrases on the theme of arguing. This post looks at some of the most useful ones. I hope you find it interesting.
Before a disagreement even begins, if someone clearly wants an argument and tries to provoke a person into arguing, you can describe them as spoiling for a fight. Also, if someone says something to deliberately start an argument, you can say they throw down the gauntlet:
He was clearly spoiling for a fight during Monday’s debate.
She threw down the gauntlet to her critics today.
Moving on to having an argument, there are various idioms for this, many of which create a vivid – and often violent – image in the mind. For example, you can say that people cross swords and if you want to emphasize that they argue very angrily you can talk about them being at each other’s throats:
They’d crossed swords numerous times in Parliament over this issue.
Tom and Ben were at each other’s throats the whole time.
Another way of saying that people argue very angrily is to say that sparks fly:
At the same press conference, sparks flew between the manager and a young journalist.
An informal way of saying that an angry argument starts (often between several people) is all hell breaks loose:
All hell broke loose when my brother got home.
Meanwhile, two people who often have angry arguments may be said to (UK) fight like cat and dog / (US) fight like cats and dogs:
I get on really well with my brother now, but as kids we used to fight like cat and dog.
Other phrases are not quite so visual. A rather restrained way to say that you have had an argument with someone is to say you exchanged words or had words with them. (Confusingly, ‘exchange words’ can also just refer to people speaking together, rather than arguing).
We had words this morning over her refusal to study.
It’s thought that they exchanged words after the meeting.
Moving on to noun phrases in this area, a shouting match is a noisy argument in which people raise their voices and, in UK English, a slanging match (informal) is an argument in which people insult each other. A running battle, meanwhile, is an argument that continues for a long period of time:
The debate soon degenerated into a shouting match.
I refused to be drawn into a slanging match.
We’ve had a running battle with the council for almost a decade.
Finally, an issue that people argue over is sometimes called the bone of contention:
The main bone of contention between them was the fact that he was so rarely at home.
That concludes my ‘argument idioms’ post. My next post will be on a rather nicer theme – ending arguments and becoming friends again!
I particularly liked the audio! It helps assimilation of the new language!
Admirations for the audio.. spot on
Very interesting post, looking forward of reading the next one!
Lana, that’s nice to hear!
Very interesting!
like
Thanks for this interesting post
The audio is good
Very useful!
Many thanks for this post! I also agree that the audio is also great in helping internalize the usage of these phrases in spoken English.
You’re very welcome! The audio is a new feature so we’re pleased to get good feedback on it.
The audio is awesome!
Great! We’re glad to hear you like it.
Quality assurance that
Its very interesting, even as a native English speaker (US) to be reminded of the “idioms” I’ve taken for granted.
very interesting!
Thank you! I’m glad you think so.
Excellent, agreed The English language contains many idioms and phrases on the topic of discussion.
Thank you, Susana!
Interesting post…Enjoyed…and will be using the idioms often during office commotions….
Thank you! I hope you don’t have too many office commotions…
Thank you so much for clear definition of different vocabularies meaning.
Please continue to do so.
God bless you all where you are all.
Hi,excellent Kate!!!
Thank you so much!