come to blows

Idioms  

1. Begin to fight. For example, It hardly seems worth coming to blows over a dollar! Thomas Hobbes had it in Leviathan (1651): “Their controversie must either come to blowes, or be undecided.” This term is also put as fall to blows, especially in Britain. [Late 1500s]

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Example Sentences

In most refugee settlements, the government has run out of land to allocate to migrants for crop cultivation, and in at least one, refugees have come to blows over the plots that are available.

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s “monkey see, monkey do,” she said, adding that she’s seen people nearly come to blows after drivers cut the line to snag a valuable spot.

From The Wall Street Journal

They talk about a "stubborn kid" who was "wild, really aggressive" and would occasionally come to blows with team-mates.

From BBC

If they come to blows it will be a mismatch, especially since the taller guy is wearing a helmet and carrying a stick.

From Los Angeles Times

And even if they don't come to blows, the mere fact of racing can bring competitors into play - as happened to McLaren at the Italian Grand Prix last year.

From BBC