at sword's point

at swords' points

Combative, quarrelsome, or belligerent. I'm not surprised that those two are arguing already—they're always at swords' points.
See also: point
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

at sword's point

Also, at swords' points. Antagonistic, hostile, as in Father and son were at swords' points. Dating from the days when swords were used to settle quarrels, the idiom today generally signifies only a bitter quarrel.
See also: point
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • at swords' points
  • come to an understanding
  • kiss the rod
  • bad actor
  • actor
  • arguing for the sake of arguing
  • argument
  • come to an understanding with (one)
  • argue for
  • cross swords with (one)
References in periodicals archive
At Sword's Point; Part 2: A Documentary History of the Utah War, 1858-1859
At Sword's Point; Part 2: A Documentary History of the Utah War, 1858-1859
If the Muslims had indeed converted the indigenous population at sword's point, India would have been a Muslim country today, which is not the case.
Muslims fail to address the world's ignorance of their faith
Part 1 of Volume 10 of the "Kingdom in the West: The Mormons and the American Frontier" series, At Sword's Point: A Documentary History of the Utah War to 1858 chronicles the 1857-58 armed confrontation between Mormon Utah Territory and the U.S.
At Sword's Point
At sword's point; a documentary history of the Utah War to 1858; part 1.
At sword's point; a documentary history of the Utah War to 1858; part 1
Though they controlled the White House, took over the Senate, were making inroads in the judiciary and held sway over the military and corporate America, conservatives nevertheless felt they were at sword's point with liberal forces far bigger and more venal than themselves--in the media, Hollywood, academia, and Congress.
Why can't democrats get tough? Bush's White House is partisan, imperial, and ruthless, but not invulnerable. (Cover Story)
NEW YORK RKO Pictures and animator Phil Roman have joined forces to turn a series of vintage films into animated features, starting with six pics that include the 1946 "Sinbad the Sailor," the 1952 adventure "Blackbeard the Pirate" and the 1952 Three Musketeers adventure "At Sword's Point."
RKO, Roman re-tooning