be at daggers drawn

To be prepared to verbally or physically fight another person or group. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. The police have had to intervene because those rival gangs have been at daggers drawn lately. The members of the committee are at daggers drawn because they cannot agree on a course of action.

be at daggers drawn

(British & Australian)

if two people or groups are at daggers drawn, they are angry and ready to fight or argue with each other

Usage notes: A dagger is a sharp pointed knife that was used in the past as a weapon.

(often + with ) Local residents are at daggers drawn with the council over rubbish collection. (often + over ) The two countries have several times been at daggers drawn over the future of the island.

See look daggers at

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Gena (2)	-	Russian
Saffira	-	Biblical Latin
Nabouchodonosor	-	Biblical Greek
LorÁNd	-	Hungarian
Wigberht	-	Anglo-Saxon, Ancient Germanic
Batraz	-	Ossetian, Caucasian Mythology