lock horns

verbfight with

Synonyms for lock horns

verb fight with

Word Origin & History

"means of fastening," Old English loc "bolt, fastening; barrier, enclosure," from Proto-Germanic *lukan (cf. Old Norse lok "fastening, lock," Gothic usluks "opening," Old High German loh "dungeon," German Loch "opening, hole," Dutch luik "shutter, trapdoor"). "The great diversity of meaning in the Teut. words seems to indicate two or more independent but formally identical substantival formations from the root."

The Old English sense "barrier, enclosure" led to the specific meaning "barrier on a river" (c.1300), and the more specific sense "gate and sluice system on a water channel used as a means of raising and lowering boats" (1570s). Wrestling sense is from c.1600. Phrase under lock and key attested from early 14c.

Example Sentences forlock horns

Take two young, fat steers they'll lock horns at the drop of a hat.

He and your father might lock horns first crack out of the box.

I kind of feel in my bones that him and me is going to lock horns, Curly.

Now the first and fourth and second and third lock horns and fight.

But there's another day, and the kingpin and I may yet lock horns.

He could lock horns and stay there, but it wa'nt no trouble to outflank him.

The latter stood motionless, antlers lowered as before, apparently quite willing to lock horns.

In an hour we'll lock horns with Hawk Rufe an' hell an' high water, an' the devil keeps what he gits.

Oh, considerable—they pulled and hauled about kinder like two cows when they lock horns.

It wouldn't do to lock horns with this self-satisfied despot; at any rate, not now.

lock horns

Synonyms for lock horns

argued

argues

arguing

compete

competed

lock horns

Synonyms for lock horns

More words related to lock horns

argue

argued

argues

arguing

compete

competed