battle with (someone or something)
battle with (someone or something)
1. To engage in an armed conflict or struggle with someone. Our troops prepared to battle with the rebels from the southern isles.
2. To engage in an argument or dispute with someone. I feel like I'm constantly battling with the number-crunchers from accounts to get the budget I need for my team. The president has been battling with Congress over the proposed legislation.
3. To engage in a relentless or merciless competition with someone or something. The two companies have been battling with one another for market dominance for nearly 10 years. She will be battling with the two-time national champion in the gold-medal match tomorrow night.
4. To struggle to make something function correctly. I've been battling with this dishwasher all morning, but it still won't drain! The amount of time each day we spend battling with this printer is downright ridiculous.
See also: battle
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
battle (with someone) (over someone or something)
Fig. to argue or struggle with someone over someone or something. (Not meant to involve physical fighting.) Why do you always have to battle with me over practically nothing? You shouldn't battle over just anything for the sake of argument!
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- battle
- play around
- put up a struggle
- break a lance
- lance
- some people (just) don't know when to give up
- some people (just) don't know when to quit
- some people (just) don't know when to stop
- some people don't know when to quit
- take (one) by surprise