Have a bone to pick

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Meaning

Holding a grievance or issue to settle, itching for a confrontation.

Origin

From 16th-century England, tied to dogs fighting over bones; picking meant arguing, as in a 1565 text on a 'bone to pick. ' By 1668, Pepys' diary uses it for a spat.

Variants

  • Bone to pick

Usage Examples

  • I've got a bone to pick with you-why'd you ditch me?
  • She has a bone to pick about that late report.
  • He came over with a bone to pick over the noise.

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