daggers drawn, at
at daggers drawn
Prepared to verbally or physically fight another person or group. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. The police have had to intervene because those rival gangs have been at daggers drawn lately. The members of the committee are at daggers drawn because they cannot agree on a course of action.
See also: dagger, drawn
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
daggers drawn, at
Also, with daggers drawn. About to or ready to fight, as in Are Felix and Oscar still at daggers drawn over the rent? Although daggers today are rarely if ever used to avenge an insult or issue a challenge to a duel, this idiom remains current. Its figurative use dates from about 1800.
See also: dagger
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
- at daggers drawn
- dagger
- be at daggers drawn
- queer bashing
- trade blows
- fight back at (someone or something)
- light into
- light into (someone or something)
- light into someone
- lash into (someone or something)