cross swords

C

cross swords

Meaning

• to fight with another person physically or verbally.
• to get engaged in combat.
• to duel
• to argue violently or quarrel with another person.
• to get in a dispute with another person.
• to be someone’s adversary.
• Mostly for the males; to urinate at the same time in a way that the urine streams have an intersection.

Example Sentences

1. The vice-presidents crossed swords at all policy meetings.
2. He crossed swords with his boss over overspending.
3. They crossed swords on many occasions over nothing in particular.
4. He always looked forward to crossing swords with his brother.
5. My friend and I crossed swords over homework.
6. We had a bad time when we last crossed swords.
7. I do not want to cross swords with Jerry over the topic.
8. You are too young to cross swords with the teacher.
9. The teacher and the parent crossed swords over who was more powerful.
10. They have crossed swords in the past about political beliefs.
11. The manager has crossed swords with employers who don’t like her administration.

Origin

This idiom is an old saying which has been in use since time immemorial. The most probable origin of the use of cross-swords as an idiom is the Medieval times when duals involving the use of actual swords were the most common way of settling disputes between gentlemen. Violent arguments almost always ended in swordplay. Although not in the exact words, its earliest documented mention occurs in the Bible, in the book of Psalms Chapter 55, Verse 21, which states that even though his words are softer than oil, they are drawn swords.

Fight