pick a bone (with someone), to

pick a bone (with someone), to

To engage in a dispute; to disagree or quarrel with someone. This term, alluding to two dogs fighting over a bone, dates from the sixteenth century. “I will add this, which may be a bone for you to pick on,” wrote James Calfhill (Answer to Martiall, 1565).
See also: bone, pick
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • no love lost between them, there's
  • give someone his/her head, to
  • there's something in the wind
  • up one's sleeve, to have something
  • moon (is) made of green cheese, (and) the
  • quarrel out
  • for my/one's money
  • silver-tongued orator
  • live like a prince, to
  • quarrel with (something)