Bone of contention

Bone of contention is a phrase that refers to an issue that people argue about over a long period of time. The term is often used in discussions where there is a significant disagreement or dispute, and it is unlikely that a resolution will be reached easily. The phrase is derived from the image of dogs fighting over a single bone.

Origin

The phrase "bone of contention" is believed to have originated in the 16th century. The earliest known use of the phrase is in John Heywood's "A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the Englishe tongue" (1546), where he wrote: "It [is] al one, a bone to fyght on more than substance of matter in question."

Usage

In modern usage, a "bone of contention" is any subject matter over which there is ongoing disagreement. It is often used to describe disputes between countries, political parties, or individuals. The phrase is used to highlight the fact that the issue at hand is not easily resolved and is likely to cause ongoing conflict.

Examples

An example of a "bone of contention" could be a territorial dispute between two countries. For example, the Kashmir region has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan for several decades. Similarly, the issue of Brexit was a significant bone of contention within the United Kingdom, causing deep divisions within the country's political landscape.

See also

• List of idioms
• Dispute resolution
• Conflict (process)

References

• Heywood, John. "A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the Englishe tongue." (1546)

This English phrase related article is a stub.