conflict

• Back Against the Wall

  To be in a desperate or extremely difficult situation with no apparent means of escape or retreat.

• Can of Worms

  A situation or issue that, once opened or addressed, creates many additional complicated problems or difficulties.

• Add fuel to the fire

  To make an already bad or difficult situation even worse.

• Burning bridges

  To destroy one's relationship with someone or a group, or to eliminate all possibilities of returning to a previous situation.

• Fight fire with fire

  To use aggressive or dangerous methods against an opponent that are similar to the methods they are using.

• Have a bone to pick

  To have a grievance or a point of contention that needs to be discussed with someone.

• Hit below the belt

  To act unfairly or unethically, often by using a tactic that is considered illegitimate or personally damaging in an argument or competition.

• On the warpath

  To be extremely angry and ready to confront someone or seek revenge.

• Stick to your guns

  To maintain your position, beliefs, or principles despite opposition or difficulty.

• Up in arms

  To be very angry and protesting strongly about something.

• Play cat and mouse

  To engage in a back-and-forth pursuit or interaction, typically where one party toys with and manipulates another while the second attempts to evade or escape.

• Stir up a hornet's nest

  To intentionally or unintentionally provoke a situation that causes widespread anger, trouble, or a strong negative reaction from many people.

• Fight like cats and dogs

  To argue or quarrel fiercely and constantly with another person.

• Get in someone's face

  To confront someone directly and often aggressively, challenging them personally or intimidating them.

• Get a black eye

  To suffer damage, harm, or a setback, often to one's reputation or image.

• A storm of protest

  A widespread and forceful expression of strong public disagreement or opposition.

• Eat your words

  To retract a statement, especially one made boastfully or confidently, after being proven wrong.

• Take the gloves off

  To stop being polite or restrained and deal with a situation in a more aggressive, direct, or forceful manner.

• Deliver a knockout blow

  To achieve a decisive and definitive victory or to end something abruptly and conclusively.

• Cat and mouse game

  A situation where one party repeatedly pursues, teases, or tries to outwit another, often with the weaker party trying to evade capture or control.

• Keep one's shirt on

  To remain calm and patient, especially when facing a frustrating situation or someone else's agitation.

• Sowing dragon's teeth

  Performing actions that, despite appearing insignificant, inevitably lead to future conflict, discord, or disastrous consequences.

• The apple of discord

  A subject or object that causes an argument, disagreement, or rivalry between individuals or groups.

• Open old wounds

  To bring up past painful experiences or conflicts that have supposedly healed or been forgotten, causing renewed distress.

• To tear a strip off someone

  To severely reprimand or scold someone in an angry and forceful manner.

• Give someone an earful

  To scold or reprimand someone vigorously and at length.

• A chip on your shoulder

  To have a chip on your shoulder means to hold an angry, resentful attitude, often because you feel you have been wronged or are inferior, leading to an argumentative demeanor.

• Bone of contention

  A bone of contention is a subject or issue that causes ongoing disagreement or dispute between people or groups.

• To stand one's ground

  To maintain one's position, opinion, or resolve despite opposition, pressure, or difficulty.

• Lost cause

  A person, effort, or idea that is doomed to fail or has no realistic hope of success.

• Flame war

  An intense, often personal, and prolonged online argument or dispute that involves angry or hostile messages.

• Getting slammed

  To be severely affected, overwhelmed, or criticized, often unexpectedly and intensely.

• Dust up

  A dust up is a minor fight, quarrel, or argument, often brief and not particularly serious.

• Range war

  A violent conflict between rival groups, typically in the American West, over access to land, water, or grazing rights for livestock.

• Showdown

  A final, decisive confrontation or encounter, often between opposing parties.

• Settle a score

  To take revenge on someone for a past wrong or injury.

• Stab in the back

  To betray someone in a treacherous and disloyal way, especially by someone previously trusted.

• Back to the wall

  To be in a dire situation where all options for retreat or escape are exhausted, forcing one to confront a challenge with full effort.

• On your back

  To be in a position of complete vulnerability, defeat, or severe disadvantage.

• Have a bone to pick with you

  To have a specific grievance or complaint that needs to be discussed with someone.

• Over my dead body

  An emphatic refusal to allow something to happen, implying one would rather die than permit it.

• cat and dog fight

  A "cat and dog fight" refers to a noisy, bitter, and often physical argument or struggle between two people.

• Kicked out

  To be forcibly removed or expelled from a place, a job, or a group.

• Booted out

  To be forcefully expelled or dismissed from a place, position, or group.

• To have an axe to grind

  To have a hidden motive or personal grievance behind one's actions or words.

• Trouble in the air

  A feeling or sense that problems, difficulties, or conflict are imminent.

• Cutthroat competition

  Intense and ruthless competition where competitors are willing to do whatever it takes to succeed, even if it harms others.

• Kill or be killed

  This phrase describes a desperate situation where one must act ruthlessly and aggressively to ensure their own survival, otherwise they will be destroyed by an opposing force or circumstance.

• No quarter given

  It signifies that absolutely no mercy, leniency, or terms of surrender will be offered to an opponent; the fight will continue without compromise until total victory or annihilation.

• Every man for himself

  This phrase describes a chaotic situation where individuals prioritize their own survival or interests over collective responsibility or cooperation.

• Tit for tat

  An action taken in return for a similar action, especially a retaliation for an insult or injury.

• A hostile welcome

  An unfriendly and unwelcoming reception, often characterized by antagonism or aggression.

• A hornet's nest

  A hornet's nest refers to a difficult or unpleasant situation that, once disturbed, is likely to cause widespread anger, trouble, or commotion.

• Blame game

  A situation where individuals or groups try to shift responsibility and fault onto others rather than accepting their own or working collaboratively to find a solution.

• Firing a warning shot

  To take a preliminary, less aggressive action intended to deter or caution someone without causing direct harm or initiating full conflict.

• Drawing a line in the sand

  To establish a clear limit or boundary beyond which one will not compromise or retreat.

• Showing one's teeth

  To display anger, aggression, or a willingness to fight and be confrontational.

• Things are coming to a head

  A situation or conflict is reaching a critical point where a resolution or confrontation is imminent.

• The pot is about to boil over

  A tense situation or escalating emotions are reaching a critical point where they are likely to erupt into conflict or crisis.

• Uproar

  A loud, confused, and often angry disturbance or commotion.

• Maelstrom of dissent

  A chaotic and overwhelming surge of disagreement, opposition, or protest that threatens to engulf everything.

• an onslaught of insults

  A sudden and overwhelming barrage of offensive remarks.

• A fusillade of invective

  A sudden, rapid, and continuous outpouring of harsh criticism or abusive language.

• a hail of abuse

  A hail of abuse refers to a sudden and overwhelming outpouring of harsh criticism, insults, or angry words directed at someone.

• vulnerable point

  A specific weakness or susceptibility that can be easily attacked or exploited.

• vulnerable spot

  A specific weakness, sensitive area, or point of susceptibility that can be easily attacked, harmed, or exploited.

• Fan the flames

  To deliberately make a difficult or tense situation worse, or to intensify an existing emotion or conflict.

• Escalate the problem

  To make an existing issue worse, more serious, or more intense, often by taking actions that heighten tension or complicate the situation.

• Pour oil on the flames

  To make an already bad or difficult situation, especially an argument or conflict, even worse.

• Aggravate the situation

  To make an existing problem, conflict, or negative circumstance worse.

• Throw gasoline on the fire

  To make a bad or already tense situation significantly worse.

• Inflame the situation

  To make an already tense or difficult situation worse by provoking stronger emotions or escalating conflict.

• Twist the knife

  To deliberately make a painful or difficult situation worse for someone, often by reminding them of their misfortune or adding an insult.

• Pile on

  To add more of something, often excessively or unfairly, such as criticism, pressure, or items, usually to someone or something already struggling.

• An empty threat

  A warning or declaration of intended harm that the speaker has no intention or ability to carry out.

• You're toast.

  You are in a dire situation and are certain to suffer negative consequences or defeat.

• It's over for you.

  This phrase indicates that someone has reached an inescapable point of defeat, failure, or the end of their opportunities.

• The end for you.

  A definitive declaration signifying the ultimate conclusion, defeat, or demise of someone or something.

• A bone to pick

  To have a specific complaint or grievance that needs to be discussed and resolved with someone.

• To have it in for someone

  To intensely dislike someone and seek opportunities to harm, criticize, or undermine them.

• To seek revenge

  To attempt to harm or punish someone in return for a perceived wrong or injury.

• Payback time

  This is the moment when someone receives deserved punishment, retribution, or vengeance for a past wrong or perceived injustice.

• To get even with someone

  To retaliate against someone to achieve a state of fairness or balance after an offense.

• A score to settle

  An unresolved grievance, past wrong, or debt that requires redress or revenge.

• A vendetta

  A vendetta is a prolonged, bitter, and often violent feud, especially between two families or clans, usually involving a cycle of reciprocal violence.

• Armageddon prophecy

  A prediction or belief in a final, catastrophic battle or series of events that will bring about the end of the world.

• At loggerheads

  To be in strong disagreement or dispute with someone, often over a prolonged period.

• When push comes to shove

  When a situation becomes critical and difficult, forcing a decision or action to be taken.

• Cornered

  To be trapped in a situation from which escape is difficult or impossible, often leading to a feeling of being threatened or pressured.

• Choose the losing side

  To intentionally support or align oneself with a party, idea, or conflict that is destined to fail or be defeated.

• Backed into a corner

  To be in a difficult situation with very few or no options for escape or resolution.

• Make a last stand

  To defend one's position or beliefs to the very end, even when defeat is certain.