bone of contention

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The phrase "bone of contention" is a noun that means a topic or issue that causes disagreement or conflict between people. It refers to something that people argue about or cannot agree on.

Usage Instructions

You can use "bone of contention" in both formal and informal contexts when discussing disagreements, whether in personal relationships, politics, or other situations. It's often followed by a specific subject that is causing the dispute.

Example

• "The inheritance was a bone of contention between the siblings, leading to many arguments."

Advanced Usage

In more advanced contexts, you might find "bone of contention" used in discussions about legal disputes or negotiations. For example: - "The terms of the contract became a bone of contention during the negotiations."

Word Variants

• Contentious (adjective): This describes something that is likely to cause an argument or controversy. For example: "The contentious issue of climate change divides opinions."
• Contention (noun): This is the act of arguing or the disagreement itself. For example: "There is contention over the new policy."

Different Meanings

While "bone of contention" specifically refers to a subject of dispute, the word "bone" by itself can refer to the hard parts that make up the skeleton of animals or humans. In idiomatic expressions, "bone" can also symbolize something essential or fundamental (like "the bare bones of an argument").

Synonyms

Some synonyms for "bone of contention" include: - Point of dispute - Source of conflict - Controversial issue

Related Idioms

• "To pick a bone with someone": This idiom means to have a disagreement or to bring up a complaint with someone. For example: "I need to pick a bone with you about the last meeting."
• "A thorn in someone's side": This means something that continually annoys or bothers someone. For example: "The ongoing debate about the budget has been a thorn in the manager's side."

Phrasal Verbs

While there isn't a direct phrasal verb that corresponds to "bone of contention," you might encounter phrases like: - "Fall out over": This means to have a disagreement that causes a rift between people. For example: "They fell out over the issue of vacation plans."

Summary

In summary, "bone of contention" signifies a topic that leads to disagreement or conflict.

Academic

Noun

1. the subject of a dispute
   • the real bone of contention, as you know, is money