a running battle
running battle
A prolonged argument or disagreement. When those two are in a running battle, it's hard to get them to finally reconcile.
a running battle
COMMON A running battle with someone is an argument or fight that you have over a long period of time. The government's running battle with the media took a significant new turn yesterday. Note: You can also say that someone has or fights a running battle with or against someone. `For the last four years I've fought a running battle against vandals and thieves,' Mr Hearsum said.
a running battle
a confrontation that has gone on for a long time.Literally, a running battle is one that is constantly changing its location, the opposite of a pitched battle (see pitched). The expression running fight was used in the late 17th century to describe a naval engagement in which the fight was continued as one party retreated or fled. Running battle appears to have originated in the mid 20th century.
a running ˈbattle
an argument, a dispute, etc. which continues over a long period of time: There’s been a running battle between John and his neighbour for years about their garden wall. Running here means ‘continuing’.
running battle
An ongoing fight. The term originated in naval warfare in the late 1600s, when it signified a battle carried on while a vessel was retreating (running away). Later it was transferred and used figuratively, as in one of comedian Groucho Marx’s letters (1967) in which he wrote of a running battle with Warner Brothers. See also the quotation under at swords' points.