bone of contention

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a bone of contention

An unresolved problem, dispute, or disagreement. Jerry leaving his dirty dishes in the sink for days became a bone of contention between him and his roommate.

See also: bone, contention, of

bone of contention

Fig. the subject or point of an argument; an unsettled point of disagreement. We've fought for so long that we've forgotten what the bone of contention is. The question of a fence between the houses has become quite a bone of contention.

See also: bone, contention, of

bone of contention

Main issue of a disagreement; something to quarrel about. For example, Grandfather's will was a bone of contention for the whole family. This expression alludes to two dogs fighting (contending) over a single bone. In slightly different guise, bone of dissension, it was used figuratively in the 16th century and took its present form in the early 1700s.

See also: bone, contention, of

bone of contention

The subject of a dispute.

See also: bone, contention, of

References in periodicals archive ?

However, the law on defenders remains a bone of contention and if it gets passed in contravention to the Constitution and the procedures, according to BDI, it will prompt a serious political and institutional crisis with implications for the interethnic relations.

The government adopted the laws on decriminalization

PARKING in Huddersfield town centre remains a bone of contention .

Parking on the phone; COMMENT The policy of honesty. The might of right. The expediency of principle

The spat was kicked off by a councillor named Clive Bone (the bone of contention, you see) Does it matter?

Who gives a prayer?

SOVEREIGNTY has been a bone of contention for generations.

TERRITORY ROW RAGES FOR DECADES

ALL-DAY car parking at the Heath Park Model Railway has for some time now been a bone of contention.

Parking on verges is destroying park's grass and daffodils

Today our elections have become a bone of contention.

IOA WANTS TRANSPARENT ELECTIONS IN FEDERATIONS

THE draw was a bone of contention all week at Royal Ascot, with the Hunt Cup only briefly silencing those who claimed the stands' side was the place to be, and they were back in full voice after horses drawn in stalls two, four, seven and ten dominated the finish to the Buckingham Palace Handicap on Friday.

No solving the draw puzzle; BETTING REPORT

I am sure the people would prefer a word of advice rather than be someone's current bone of contention.

Don't spy on NHS staff

A Direct Line spokesman said: "Parking is a bone of contention for most drivers in the UK.

Car park costs soar

ROUTES between University Hospital at Walsgrave and the city centre are another bone of contention.

Gripe over number 17

WHILE various top bods in both the Labour and the Tory Party are baulking at former Coronation Street star Adam Rickitt's attempt to be the Conservative candidate in Michael Howard's (ultra-safe) seat of Folkestone and Hythe in Kent, the main bone of contention seems to be that BC (Before Cameron) he was a soap star, a failed pop star and a model who appeared in raunchy gay mags.

Soaped up nicely

Whilst the majority of the Directive's provisions did not raise any particular problems, one major bone of contention emerged in second reading: unlike the Council, the European Parliament felt national authorities - rather than the EU - should be left to determine whether and how employers should assess health risks linked to exposure to natural radiation from the sun and what measures should be taken.

HEALTH & SAFETY AT WORK: EP APPROVES DIRECTIVE ON OPTICAL RADIATION

Sexton said the district's lack of long-term planning or strategic plan is another bone of contention.

BOARD MEMBERS GET RECALL THREAT

However, the main bone of contention is expected to be the Test venue in Ahmedabad, which was rocked by India's worst communal riots for a decade in 2002.

Cricket: TEST CRICKET NOVEMBER 1999 TO TODAY

NThe most common bone of contention between couples is speed, with 45% having argued with their partner about it;