A bone to pick

Origin

Imagine two hungry dogs, each eyeing a single, coveted bone. A low growl, a snap, a tussle—they "pick" at the bone, not just for sustenance but in a fierce dispute over its possession. This vivid image of canine contention, where a bone becomes the flashpoint of an argument, perfectly captures the essence of the human idiom. By the 16th century, this animalistic struggle over a literal bone had become a crisp metaphor for any outstanding grievance or complaint between people. It’s a matter that needs to be "picked at" and resolved, much like a dog meticulously working a bone until every last morsel is gone, or indeed, until the fight for it is settled.