cross swords
Fight, either verbally or physically. For example, At every policy meeting the two vice-presidents crossed swords. This phrase alludes to the ancient form of combat using swords. Also see at sword's point.
Words Nearby cross swords
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
How to use cross swords in a sentence
The New Mitt, who has discarded his frontrunner Too-Bain-to-Deign strategy to cross swords more eagerly with his opponents.
He was a servant and a lackey, and the punctilious gentlemen opposed to him were not inclined to cross swords with him.
The Light That Lures | Percy BrebnerBold as he was of speech and bearing, he never ventured to cross swords with Mr. FitzJesse.
Mount Royal, Volume 3 of 3 | Mary Elizabeth BraddonNeville crossed glances with the priest as men cross swords.
Sir Christopher | Maud Wilder GoodwinWhat kind of a woman could she be, this Shirley Green, to dare cross swords with a man whose power was felt in two hemispheres?
The Lion and The Mouse | Charles Klein
Let us now turn to Frontenac, who was soon to cross swords with Perrot of Montreal.
Montreal 1535-1914 under the French Rgime | William Henry Atherton
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