butted heads
Had a confrontation
To butt heads is to clash or come into conflict, usually over a disagreement: The two executives butted heads over the company's direction.
The image is of rams or goats ramming their heads together in confrontation.
Butted heads is the past tense, describing a conflict that already occurred: We butted heads a few times, but eventually found common ground.
- sparredPracticed combat moves
- collidedStruck with force
- clashedCame into conflict
- debatedFormally argued opposing views
- heated exchangeAngry verbal conflict
had words · argument · feud · bad blood · at loggerheads · stubbornness · compromise · cleared the air · frustration · quarrel · impact · ram · rivalry · power struggle · discord · standoff · contention · wrestle
butted headscooperated
Acted jointly with others
saw eye to eye · collaborated · got along · agreed · worked together
butted headsbacked down
Retreated from a position
yielded · deferred · let it go · walked away · kept the peace
butt, butted, butting, butts, head, heads, headed, heading, headless