a situation where no argument can be settled or no one can win in a contest
Examples
to stand firm
to stand firm
/stˈænd fˈɜːm/
verb
to stick to one's opinions; to not move back
Examples
stand-off
stand-off
/stˈændˈɔf/
noun
a situation where reaching an agreement seems impossible
Examples
sticking point
sticking point
/stˈɪkɪŋ pˈɔɪnt/
noun
a subject or issue over which people disagree and therefore no progress can be made
Examples
stir
stir
/ˈstɝ/
noun
a situation where there is excitement, annoyance, or shock
Examples
to stir up
to stir up
/stˈɜːɹ ˈʌp/
verb
to intentionally try to cause trouble or arguments
Examples
stormy
stormy
/ˈstɔɹmi/
adjective
involving bitter arguments and angry feelings
Examples
strife
strife
/ˈstɹaɪf/
noun
violent disagreement between people
Examples
to struggle
to struggle
/ˈstɹəɡəɫ/
verb
to argue or compete with someone or something, particularly to get something specific
Examples
struggle
struggle
/ˈstɹəɡəɫ/
noun
a contest or conflict in which people try to get something
Examples
the moral high ground
the moral high ground
/ðə mˈɔːɹəl hˈaɪ ɡɹˈaʊnd/
phrase
a claim that one has moral superiority over others
Examples
to take issue with
to take issue with
/tˈeɪk ˈɪʃuː wɪð/
phrase
to argue or disagree with someone over something
Examples
to take someone/something to the mat
to take someone/something to the mat
/tˈeɪk sˈʌmwʌn slˈæʃ sˈʌmθɪŋ tə ðə mˈæt/
phrase
to engage in a quarrel or argument with someone or something
Examples
tangle
tangle
/ˈtæŋɡəɫ/
noun
a disagreement, fight, or conflict
Examples
to tangle with
to tangle with
/tˈæŋɡəl wɪð/
verb
to engage in a fight or argument with someone or something
Examples
to tear apart
to tear apart
/tˌɛɹ ɐpˈɑːɹt/
verb
to separate or destroy by causing serious arguments in a country, organization, or group
Examples
the gloves are off
the gloves are off
/ðə ɡlˈʌvz ɑːɹ ˈɔf/
phrase
used to express one's readiness for an argument or fight
Examples
thorny
thorny
/ˈθɔɹni/
adjective
causing problem or difficulty
Examples
tiff
tiff
/ˈtɪf/
noun
a small argument between two people who love each other or are close friends
Examples
troublemaker
troublemaker
/ˈtɹəbəɫˌmeɪkɝ/
noun
someone with a tendency to cause difficulty, particularly by encouraging others to question those in authority
Examples
turbulence
turbulence
/ˈtɝbjəɫəns/
noun
a state of instability, disorder, or conflict
Examples
turbulent
turbulent
/ˈtɝbjəɫənt/
adjective
marked with instability, argument, disorder, or conflict
Examples
turf war
turf war
/tˈɜːf wˈɔːɹ/
noun
a violent fight or argument between rivals over the control of a specific area or activity
Examples
tussle
tussle
/ˈtəsəɫ/
noun
a fight, struggle, or argument, particularly to get something
Examples
to tussle
to tussle
/ˈtəsəɫ/
verb
to struggle or fight with someone, particularly to get something
Examples
unbridgeable
unbridgeable
/ʌnbɹˈɪdʒəbəl/
adjective
(of a difference between people or their ideas) unable to be closed or made smaller because of being major
Examples
under protest
under protest
/ˌʌndɚ pɹˈoʊtɛst/
phrase
reluctantly
Examples
to unlike
to unlike
/ənˈɫaɪk/
verb
to show that one no longer likes an online post or comment by clicking on a specific icon
Examples
unpleasantness
unpleasantness
/ənˈpɫɛzəntnəs/
noun
unfriendliness or disagreements between individuals
Examples
unsettled
unsettled
/ənˈsɛtəɫd/
adjective
(of a disagreement, question, etc.) not resolved yet
Examples
unsympathetic
unsympathetic
/ənˌsɪmpəˈθɛtɪk/
adjective
unwilling to support an action, idea, etc.; disagreeing with something
Examples
unsympathetically
unsympathetically
/ʌnsˌɪmpəθˈɛɾɪkli/
adverb
in a manner that is unkind; without compassion
Examples
uproar
uproar
/ˈəˌpɹɔɹ/
noun
a situation where there is a lot of noise caused by upset or angry people
Examples
vendetta
vendetta
/vɛnˈdɛtə/
noun
a prolonged and violent argument between two families or groups in which members of each side make attempts to murder the members of the opposing side in retaliation for things that occurred in the past
Examples
to wade in
to wade in
/wˈeɪd ˈɪn/
verb
to aggressively become involved in a fight, argument, etc. without consideration
Examples
to wade into
to wade into
/wˈeɪd ˌɪntʊ/
verb
to engage in an argument, discussion, etc. forcefully or aggressively without consideration
Examples
war of words
war of words
/wˈɔːɹ ʌv wˈɜːdz/
phrase
a long argument between people
Examples
who says
who says
/hˌuː sˈɛz/
phrase
used to express disagreement with an opinion or statement
Examples
with (all due|) respect
with (all due|) respect
/wɪð ˈɔːl dˈuː ɹɪspˈɛkt/
phrase
used to politely express complete disagreement
Examples
to worst
to worst
/ˈwɝst/
verb
to defeat someone in a contest, argument, or fight
Examples
to wrangle
to wrangle
/ˈɹæŋɡəɫ/
verb
to have a prolonged and complicated argument
Examples
wrangle
wrangle
/ˈɹæŋɡəɫ/
noun
a prolonged and complicated argument
Examples
wrangling
wrangling
/ˈɹæŋɡəɫɪŋ/, /ˈɹæŋɡɫɪŋ/
noun
involvement in a prolonged and complicated argument
Examples
yeah, right
yeah, right
/jˈɛh
ɹˈaɪt/
interjection
used to express disagreement with or disbelief at a statement
Examples
the battle lines [are] drawn
the battle lines [are] drawn
/ðə bˈæɾəl lˈaɪnz ɑːɹ dɹˈɔːn/
phrase
used to say that people have chosen which side they are going to support in an upcoming contest or argument