at daggers drawn
Meaning
In open hostility; actively quarreling or ready to fight with someone.
Origin
From the image of opponents with daggers drawn (unsheathed), ready to fight; recorded in English from the 16th–17th centuries to mean open enmity.
Notes
Somewhat formal/old-fashioned; used more in writing than casual speech. Emphasizes strong, open hostility (not just mild disagreement). Often used with “with.”
Examples
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After the merger, the two department heads were at daggers drawn over budget cuts.
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My siblings have been at daggers drawn since the inheritance was announced.
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The neighbors were at daggers drawn about the fence line and refused to speak.
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Even during the meeting, the two candidates stayed at daggers drawn, trading sharp remarks.
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They used to be close friends, but now they're at daggers drawn over a broken promise.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually predicative: “be at daggers drawn (with someone).” Rarely used attributively. Tense changes on “be” (was/are/were). The phrase is fairly fixed; don’t change “daggers” or “drawn.”
Synonyms
- at odds
- at loggerheads
- in open hostility
- in conflict
- feuding
Antonyms
- on good terms
- be on friendly terms
- be reconciled
- bury the hatchet