an/the olive branch

A symbol, expression, or gesture of peace, reconciliation, truce, etc. Used most commonly in the phrase "hold out/offer (someone) an/the olive branch." The conservatives in Congress seem to be offering the olive branch to Democrats on the issue of raising the debt ceiling. If you find yourself in a spat with a friend, try to be the bigger person and be the one to hold out the olive branch. I was still hurt by the way my parents had lied to me, but I decided to hold out an olive branch by going home for Christmas.

branch off

To split or move away from something. Don't worry, you can stay on Main Street for now—the street you need to turn on to branches off of Main Street. The subclavian artery branches off from the aorta. Be careful, that trail branches off into a few smaller ones that are pretty overgrown and treacherous.

See also: branch, off

branch out

1. To split or move away from something. The subclavian artery branches out from the aorta. Be careful, that trail branches out into a few smaller ones that are pretty overgrown and treacherous. You should take that highway because it branches out into one that goes straight into the city.

2. To grow out from a tree trunk or limb, as of a tree branch. I'm pretty sure the limb that fell in our yard branched out from your tree. That part of the tree seems healthy, but I'm not so sure about this area branching out from it. Why are there only birds' nests in the limbs branching out from that area of the tree?

3. To explore something new; to widen one's interests or scope of expertise. You're a great student, honey, but I would really like for you to branch out and try a sport this year. Paul used to only be interested in still photography, but he's branching out and shooting movies now. It's an admirable attempt by the director to branch out into more serious subject matter, but, ultimately, maybe he would be better off sticking to the light stuff that his comedies typically deal with.

See also: branch, out

cadet branch

The branch of a family that descends from a younger son, i.e., not the firstborn. The lucky firstborn son stands to inherit much more than the cadet branches of a family. I often feel as though my children are forgotten because they descend from the cadet branch. My older brother's children are clearly the favorites. Because I never had aspirations of the throne, I have no issue with being a member of the cadet branch.

fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down

slang Said of someone or something that is deemed very unattractive. That hairless cat is hideous—it's like it fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. A: "Don't make me go to prom with that loser—it's like he fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down." B: "Wow, that's incredibly rude." Some of the animals in this book fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down. Like, they're truly terrifying to look at!

See also: and, branch, down, every, fell, hit, of, on, out, tree, ugly, way

hold out an olive branch (to someone)

To extend an offer or gesture of peace, reconciliation, truce, etc. (to someone), so as to end a disagreement or dispute. The conservatives in Congress seem to be holding out an olive branch to Democrats on the issue of raising the debt ceiling. If you find yourself in a spat with a friend, try to be the bigger person and be the one to hold out an olive branch. I was still hurt by the way my parents had lied to me, but I decided to hold out an olive branch by going home for Christmas.

See also: an, branch, hold, olive, out

hold out an/the olive branch

To extend an offer or gesture of peace, reconciliation, truce, etc., so as to end a disagreement or dispute. If you find yourself in a spat with a friend, try to be the bigger person and be the one to hold out the olive branch. I was still hurt by the way my parents had lied to me, but I decided to hold out an olive branch by going home for Christmas. The conservatives in Congress seem to be holding out an olive branch to Democrats on the issue of raising the debt ceiling.

See also: an, branch, hold, olive, out

hold out the olive branch (to someone)

To extend an offer or gesture of peace, reconciliation, truce, etc. (to someone), so as to end a disagreement or dispute. The conservatives in Congress seem to be holding out the olive branch to Democrats on the issue of raising the debt ceiling. If you find yourself in a spat with a friend, try to be the bigger person and be the one to hold out the olive branch. I was still hurt by the way my parents had lied to me, but I decided to hold out the olive branch by going home for Christmas.

offer an olive branch (to someone)

To extend an offer or gesture of peace, reconciliation, truce, etc. (to someone), so as to end a disagreement or dispute. (Can also be formulated as "offer someone an olive branch.") The conservatives in Congress seem to be offering an olive branch to Democrats on the issue of raising the debt ceiling. If you find yourself in a spat with a friend, try to be the bigger person and be the one to offer an olive branch. I was still hurt by the way my parents had lied to me, but I decided to offer them an olive branch at Christmas.

offer the olive branch (to someone)

To extend an offer or gesture of peace, reconciliation, truce, etc. (to someone), so as to end a disagreement or dispute. (Can also be formulated as "offer someone the olive branch.") The conservatives in Congress seem to be offering the olive branch to Democrats on the issue of raising the debt ceiling. If you find yourself in a spat with a friend, try to be the bigger person and be the one to offer the olive branch. I was still hurt by the way my parents had lied to me, but I decided to offer them the olive branch at Christmas.

private branch exchange

A telephone system within an institution or business that can only be used by the people inside that establishment. There was an issue with the private branch exchange this morning, but we hope to have the phones working again shortly.

root and branch

In its entirety; wholly. The company has changed root and branch since it was bought out by the media conglomerate. The new administration is aiming to overhaul the tax system root and branch.

See also: and, branch, root

the highest branch is not the safest roost

proverb Because a position of power is widely coveted, it does not guarantee safety to the holder. Why do you think so many prominent people have been assassinated? The highest branch is not the safest roost. I know you want to be president one day, but honey, the highest branch is not the safest roost.

See also: branch, high, not, roost, safe

branch off (from something)

to separate off from something; to divide away from something. A small stream branched off from the main channel. An irrigation ditch branched off here and there.

See also: branch, off

branch out

(from something)

1. Lit. [for a branch] to grow out of a branch or trunk. (Having to do with plants and trees.) A twig branched out of the main limb and grew straight up. The bush branched out from the base.

2. Fig. to expand away from something; to diversify away from narrower interests. The speaker branched out from her prepared remarks. The topic was very broad, and she was free to branch out.

See also: branch, out

branch out (into something)

Fig. to diversify and go into new areas. I have decided to branch out into some new projects. Business was very good, so I decided to branch out.

See also: branch, out

hold out the olive branch

Fig. to offer to end a dispute and be friendly; to offer reconciliation. (The olive branch is a symbol of peace and reconciliation. A biblical reference.) Jill was the first to hold out the olive branch after our argument. I always try to hold out the olive branch to someone I have offended. Life is too short for a person to bear grudges for very long.

branch off

Diverge, subdivide, as in It's the house on the left, just after the road branches off, or English and Dutch branched off from an older parent language, West Germanic. This term alludes to a tree's growth pattern, in which branches grow in separate directions from the main trunk. [Second half of 1800s] Also see branch out.

See also: branch, off

branch out

Separate into subdivisions; strike off in a new direction. For example, Our software business is branching out into more interactive products, or Bill doesn't want to concentrate on just one field; he wants to branch out more. This term alludes to the growth habits of a tree's limbs. [Early 1700s] Also see branch off.

See also: branch, out

olive branch

A symbol of peace, an offering of good will, as in They feuded for years, but finally the Hatfields came over bearing an olive branch. This term is alluded to in the Bible (Genesis 8:11), where the dove comes to Noah after the flood with an olive leaf in its mouth. [c. 1600]

root and branch

Utterly, completely, as in The company has been transformed root and branch by the new management. Alluding to both the underground and aboveground parts of a tree, this idiom was first recorded in 1640.

See also: and, branch, root

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

hold out an olive branch

offer an olive branch

COMMON If you hold out an olive branch or offer an olive branch to someone, you say or do something to show that you want to end a disagreement with them. We are holding out an olive branch, inviting the landowners to talk to us. The authorities have offered an olive branch to the community. Note: You can say that someone accepts an olive branch if they accept the thing that has been said or done to end the disagreement. It would be some time before he would accept the olive branch offered to him. Note: You can use olive branch to mean an offer of peace or friendship. I think the olive branch will have to come from both sides. He invited the world to choose between the gun and the olive branch. Note: The story of the Flood in the Bible tells how Noah sent out first a raven, then a dove, to see if there was any sign of land. If they found some land, it would mean that God had forgiven man: `And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off; so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.' (Genesis 8:11)

See also: an, branch, hold, olive, out

root and branch

COMMON If something is changed or reformed root and branch, it is changed or reformed completely, so that none of the old or traditional parts remain. These genuinely radical measures should change our economic system root and branch. Note: A root-and-branch reform, change or examination is a complete reform, change or examination. The Chief Inspector of Prisons called for root and branch reform of the prison system yesterday. The government has embarked on a root and branch review of the future of student finance. Note: In 1641 the Root and Branch Bill abolishing the government of the church by bishops was presented to the English Parliament. Those who supported the bill were known as `root-and-branch men', and the term has been used to refer to reform ever since.

See also: and, branch, root

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

hold out (or offer) an olive branch

offer a token of peace or goodwill.

A branch of an olive tree is an emblem of peace. In the Bible, it was the token brought by a dove to Noah to indicate that God's anger was assuaged and that the flood had abated (Genesis 8:11).

See also: an, branch, hold, olive, out

root and branch

used to express the thorough or radical nature of a process or operation.

1999 Which? Last year, the government undertook a root and branch examination of the home-buying process in England and Wales.

See also: and, branch, root

hold out/offer an ˈolive branch (to somebody)

show that you want to make peace with somebody: After their argument, he was the first one to hold out an olive branch. OPPOSITE: throw down the gauntletThe olive branch is an ancient symbol of peace.

See also: an, branch, hold, offer, olive, out

ˌroot and ˈbranch

completely; thoroughly: The independence movement has been destroyed root and branch.

See also: and, branch, root

branch off

1. To separate from a main road or path and follow a smaller one: Take a left where the main trail branches off onto a footpath.

2. To separate from a primary source or origin and move or develop in a different direction: After we discovered a new species of insect, some members of our research team branched off and are studying it. A new political group has branched off from the old party.

See also: branch, off

branch out

1. To develop or have many branches or tributaries: Once this tree reaches a certain size, it will begin to branch out. The river branches out into a great delta before flowing into the sea.

2. To grow out of a tree trunk or branch: I like to sit on a large limb that branches out from the apple tree.

3. To expand the scope of one's interests or activities into a new area or areas: At first I studied only Latin, but later I branched out and began learning other languages, too.

See also: branch, out

root and branch

Utterly; completely: The organization has been transformed root and branch by its new leaders.

See also: and, branch, root

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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