🦴 To Have a Bone to Pick: Canine Contentions and Conundrums 🗣️
Life would be dreadfully dull if everyone agreed with everyone else all the time. Enter the idiom “to have a bone to pick,” a tidbit of language that serves to spice up our conversational lives with a dash of kindly contention.
Definition
To Have a Bone to Pick — To have a point to argue, an unpleasant issue to discuss, or a complaint. Historically linked to the imagery of a dog gnawing on a bone or two dogs quarreling over a single bone, this idiom has been around since at least the early 16th century.
Associated Terms and Expressions
- Take Issue With - To disagree with or challenge someone.
- “I must take issue with your stance on pineapple pizza.” 🍍🍕
- Raise a Stink - To protest vehemently.
- “They raised a stink about the poor customer service.”
- Air One’s Grievances - To openly communicate complaints or discontent.
- “It’s time for the team to air their grievances.”
Related Proverbs and Wisdom Nuggets
-
“Silence gives consent.”
- Saying nothing implies agreement, if you’re quiet, you may not have a bone to pick!
-
“The squeaky wheel gets the grease.”
- Complaining about something, or having a bone to pick might actually get results!
Humor-Filled Quotes and References
-
W. C. Fields: “I am free of all prejudices. I hate everyone equally.”
- A witty nod to perennial disagreement.
-
Oscar Wilde: “Arguments are extremely vulgar, for everyone in good society holds exactly the same opinion.”
- A sarcastic take on harmonious societies.
Literature, Songs, and Pop Culture
-
Book: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
- Elizabeth Bennet certainly has quite a few bones to pick with Mr. Darcy and company throughout this classic!
-
Song: We Can Work It Out by The Beatles.
- Not just a tune, but a guide to resolving those little bones we are always picking.
-
Movie: The Odd Couple.
- Felix and Oscar are quintessential examples of two people who always, always have bones to pick with each other.
Quiz Time!
Farewell Thought:
In the grand tapestry of human interaction, having a bone to pick can either tear us apart or, if handled with grace and humor, knit us closer together. Next time you find a bone worth picking, may it lead to understanding or, at the very least, an entertaining debate!
Warmest regards,
Ima Quarrelicious
October 4, 2023
