call a truce
Agree to stop
To call a truce is to agree to stop fighting or arguing, at least temporarily.
The phrase comes from formal warfare—where opposing sides would halt hostilities to tend wounded or negotiate—but now applies to any conflict: Let's call a truce and finish dinner in peace.
Unlike making peace, a truce implies the underlying dispute may remain unresolved.
- ceasefireAgreed halt to fighting
- lay down armsAgree to stop fighting
- peaceFreedom from disturbance
- make peaceResolve conflict between parties
- surrenderCease resistance, yield
wave the white flag · armistice · negotiate · peace talks · come to terms · white flag · handshake · reconcile · treaty · olive branch · bury the hatchet · parley · detente · standoff · no man's land · enemies · battlefield · diplomacy
- combat idiomsstab in the back, dodge a bullet, in the crosshairs, fire away, take a shot
- conflictclash, fight, war, battle, dispute
- apologiessorry, forgive me, my mistake, mea culpa, sincere apology
call a trucedeclare war
Formally announce military action
fan the flames · pick a fight · go to war · open fire · throw down the gauntlet
call, calls, called, calling, caller, callers, callback, truce, truces