lock horns

Idioms  

1. Become embroiled in conflict, as in At the town meeting Kate and Steve locked horns over increasing the property tax. This expression alludes to how stags and bulls use their horns to fight one another. [First half of 1800s]

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Example Sentences

The wiggle room has left courts to lock horns over the most basic facts before them — including whether what the president claims must be provably true.

From Los Angeles Times

Oval Invincibles women face their Welsh Fire counterparts at 14:30 at The Oval - match which is live on BBC iPlayer - before the men's sides lock horns at 18:00.

From BBC

South Africans and Nigerians often lock horns on social media.

From BBC

It is deja vu as Liverpool and Chelsea lock horns in a major final once again.

From BBC

They lock horns a bit as the two argue over the look and feel of the show – he irrationally presents her with a pink and baby blue kitchen that Elizabeth accurately describes as “revolting” and impractical — but on one matter Elizabeth is adamant.

From Salon