Have a bone to pick

Definitions

• To have an issue or disagreement with someone
  To express that there is an unresolved problem or conflict between two or more people that needs to be addressed and resolved

• To have a complaint or criticism
  To indicate that there is something that someone wants to discuss or bring attention to in a negative way, often related to a specific issue or behavior

Examples of Have a bone to pick

• Sarah had a bone to pick with her boss after he criticized her work in front of the entire team.

  This idiom means Sarah had a specific issue or complaint to discuss with her boss. The phrase "have a bone to pick" comes from the idea of two dogs fighting over a bone, and in this case, Sarah felt she needed to address a particular issue with her boss, much like a dog protecting its bone.

• Tom had a bone to pick with his friend about the way he had treated his girlfriend.

  In this example, Tom had a specific concern or complaint about the way his friend had treated his girlfriend, and he wanted to discuss it with him.

• The senator had a bone to pick with the president's policies.

  Here, the senator had a specific disagreement or complaint about the president's policies, and he wanted to bring it to the president's attention.

• The manager had a bone to pick with the sales team's performance in the last quarter.

  In this example, the manager had a specific issue or complaint about the sales team's performance in the last quarter, and he wanted to address it with them.

• The student had a bone to pick with the teacher's grading system.

  This idiom is used when the student has a specific concern or complaint about the teacher's grading system, and they want to discuss it with the teacher.In each example, the idiom "have a bone to pick" is used to indicate that the person has a specific issue or complaint that they want to address with someone else. It can be used in a variety of contexts, from personal relationships to professional settings.

Conclusion

This idiom is commonly used to express a frustration or disagreement with someone or something. It can be used in a variety of situations, from minor complaints to more serious conflicts. Overall, it conveys the idea that there is an issue that needs to be addressed or resolved.

Origin of "Have a bone to pick"

The origin of this idiom is believed to come from the practice of dogs burying bones and then returning to them later to pick and eat them. In this context, "having a bone to pick" would refer to someone having an unresolved issue or disagreement that they want to return to and address.

Another theory suggests that the idiom may have originated from the literal act of picking a bone clean, as in a piece of meat. This could symbolize someone wanting to completely resolve a problem or criticism, leaving no remnants behind.

Overall, the idiom "have a bone to pick" has been in use since the 16th century and has evolved over time to convey the idea of having a problem or complaint that needs to be addressed.