burying hatchet
Ending a feud
Burying the hatchet means ending a conflict and making peace.
The phrase evokes a Native American diplomatic custom of literally burying weapons to seal a treaty.
To bury the hatchet is to set aside grievances and move forward: After years of feuding, the brothers finally buried the hatchet.
Often appears as bury the hatchet.
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- truceAgreed halt to hostilities
- call a truceFormally end conflict
- peaceFreedom from disturbance
peace pipe · amends · apology · handshake · shake hands · ceasefire · healing · olive branch · grudge · feud · making up · kiss and make up · letting go · mending fences · clear the air · settlement · treaty · accord
- figurative actionsburning bridges, biting tongue, cutting ties, jumping ship, losing face
- forgivenessforgiveness of sins, redemption, absolve, mercy, grace
- Making Peaceapology, compromise, forgiveness, truce, peace talks
- reconcilingforgiving, apologizing, mending, peacemaking, mediating
- peacepeace, peaceful, peacefully, peace sign, peace symbol
burying hatchetholding a grudge
fanning the flames · keeping score · declaring war · throwing down the gauntlet
burying hatchetgetting even
Reciprocating a wrong
settling scores · avenging · retaliating · paying back · biding one's time