- Meaning
- This idiom means to have a grievance, issue, or complaint to discuss with someone, often implying a need to confront or resolve a specific problem. It suggests a lingering dissatisfaction, like a dog with a bone to chew, and is used in personal, professional, or social contexts to indicate a desire for clarification or accountability. The phrase carries a confrontational yet often lighthearted tone, reflecting cultural norms around addressing disputes directly, and can range from playful to serious depending on the context.
- Origin
- The phrase likely originated in 16th-century England, tied to the imagery of dogs fighting over or chewing on a bone, symbolizing a persistent issue. An early use appears in John Heywood’s 1562 *Proverbs*: ‘I have a bone to pick with thee.’ The idiom gained traction in the 17th century, reflecting a culture of direct confrontation, as seen in Samuel Pepys’ diary. Its use grew in 19th-century British and American English, with Charles Dickens’ *David Copperfield* (1850) employing it. The phrase’s vivid imagery and relevance to disputes ensured its spread, particularly in conversational and literary contexts across English-speaking cultures.
- Variants
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- Have a bone to pick
- Got a bone to pick
- Have a bone to pick with someone
- Pick a bone with
- Examples
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- I have a bone to pick with you—why didn’t you tell me about the schedule change?
- She’s got a bone to pick with her boss over the unfair workload.
- Have a bone to pick with someone? Talk to them directly instead of gossiping.
- Pick a bone with me if you must, but I stand by my decision.
- He had a bone to pick with his neighbor about the noisy late-night parties.
- I’ve got a bone to pick with the team for ignoring my input in the meeting.
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