fighting words

Idioms  

1. A statement bound to start a quarrel or fight. It is often expressed as them's fighting words, as in You say your father's smarter than mine? Them's fighting words. The ungrammatical use of them's for “those are” emphasizes the folksy tone of this colloquialism, first recorded in Ring Lardner's Gullible's Travels (1917).

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fighting words

In Michigan, home to about 240,000 Muslims, these are fighting words.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

These are fighting words, and we can safely assume that Jackson does not use them lightly.

From Slate ● Jun. 20, 2025

The union’s fighting words are one reason why the studios are preparing for the worst.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 10, 2023

There are exceptions for libel, incitement, obscenity and fighting words, and one for “true threats,” which is at issue in Mr. Counterman’s case.

From New York Times ● Feb. 20, 2023

For all her fighting words she gave no overpowering aid—not yet; father and son must prove their mettle still.

From "The Odyssey" by Homer

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