swords Idiom

cross swords

Idiom(s): cross swords (with sb) (on sth)

Theme: ARGUMENT

to enter into an argument with someone.
• I don’t want to cross swords with Tom on this matter.
• The last time we crossed swords, we had a terrible time.

Beat swords into ploughshares

If people beat swords into ploughshares, they spend money on humanitarian purposes rather than weapons. (The American English spelling is 'plowshares')

at swords' points|sword|swords|swords' points

adj. phr. Ready to start fighting; very much opposed to each; other hostile; quarreling. The dog's barking kept the Browns at swords' points with their neighbors for months. The mayor and the reporter were always at swords' points.

cross swords|cross|swords

v. phr., literary To have an argument with; fight.

Often used with "with". Don't argue with the teacher; you're not old enough to cross swords with her.

More Idioms/Phrases

crop up cross a bridge before one comes to it cross fire cross one's fingers cross one's heart cross one's mind cross one's path cross street cross swords cross the wire cross up cross-check crow before one is out of the woods crown jewels crux of the matter cry before one is hurt cry buckets

English Vocalbulary

at that moment in time at that rate at that time at that very early stage at the at the age of at the amount to at the back of at the beginning of at the beginning of January at the beginning of this century at the best at the bottom at the breast at the cost of at the crack of dawn at the direction of at the discretion of