olive branch

an/the olive branch

A symbol, expression, or gesture of peace, reconciliation, truce, etc. Used most commonly in the phrase "hold out/offer (someone) an/the olive branch." The conservatives in Congress seem to be offering the olive branch to Democrats on the issue of raising the debt ceiling. If you find yourself in a spat with a friend, try to be the bigger person and be the one to hold out the olive branch.
See also: branch, olive
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

olive branch

A symbol of peace, an offering of good will, as in They feuded for years, but finally the Hatfields came over bearing an olive branch. This term is alluded to in the Bible (Genesis 8:11), where the dove comes to Noah after the flood with an olive leaf in its mouth. [c. 1600]
See also: branch, olive
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • an/the olive branch
  • branch
  • olive
  • how about
  • how/what about...?
  • eggs is eggs
  • open sesame
  • be twiddling (one's) thumbs
  • be twiddling your thumbs
  • How long is a piece of string?
References in periodicals archive
On January 20, Ankara, jointly with the opposition Free Syrian Army forces, launched Operation Olive Branch in Afrin.
The sources said that more Kurdish infantry units equipped with light arms left the town of Qamishli in Northern Hasaka for Afrin region as the Turkish forces and their allied militants are on the verge of isolating Afrin from Syrian territories within the framework of Operation Olive Branch.
The General Staff of the Turkish Army reported on Thursday that a sum of 3,055 Kurdish fighters were killed or captured by the Turkish troops and allied militants during Operation Olive Branch in Afrin region.
The Arabic-language Elam al-Harbi reported that the SDF has called 1,700 gunmen from the battlefields against ISIL and has sent them to Afrin to face the Turkish troops and the Ankara-backed Free Syrian Army militants operating under Operation Olive Branch.
"Since the beginning of the Operation Olive Branch , Turkey has deployed its F-16 aircrafts at the Incirlik air base," Karatas said.
In a relevant development on Wednesday, the Turkish Army troops and Ankara-backed militants managed to push the Kurdish fighters back from more positions within the framework of Operation Olive Branch, paving the ground for taking control over the town of Afrin, local sources said.
Summary: TEHRAN (FNA)- The Turkish Army troops and Ankara-backed militants managed to push the Kurdish fighters back from more positions within the framework of Operation Olive Branch, paving the ground for taking control over the town of Afrin, local sources said on Wednesday.
ANKARA, Feb 10 (KUNA) -- Nine Turkish soldiers were killed and 11 injured in confrontations as part of operation Olive Branch against Kurdish separatists in Afrin, northwest of Syria, the Turkish army said Saturday.
Relevant reports said on Tuesday that the Turkish Army troops and Ankara-backed militants continued Operation Olive Branch against Kurdish militias in Afrin Region in Northwestern Aleppo and captured more points, laying siege on a strategic region.
ANKARA, Feb 10 (KUNA) -- At least 1,141 militants have been "neutralized" since the beginning of Operation Olive Branch in Syria's northwestern Afrin, the Turkish army said Saturday.
As part of the Operation Olive Branch in Syria, the Turkish Armed Forces paid special attention to ensure that civilians are not injured and historical values are not damaged, according to the message.
Summary: TEHRAN (FNA)- The Turkish Army troops and Ankara-backed militants continued Operation Olive Branch against Kurdish militias in Afrin Region in Northwestern Aleppo on Tuesday and captured more points, laying siege on a strategic region.
ANKARA, Feb 3 (KUNA) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed Turkey's ongoing Operation Olive Branch in Syria's northwestern region of Afrin by phone on Saturday.