have words
Exchange heated remarks
To have words with someone is to argue or quarrel with them, typically in a brief but heated exchange: I had words with my neighbor about his dog barking at night.
The phrase implies a confrontation that may or may not resolve the dispute.
Without the preposition, we had words suggests mutual conflict rather than one person addressing another.
- bickerArgue over trifles
- argueVerbally oppose another's view
- remonstrateTo argue in opposition
- quibbleTrivial objection raised
- chew outReprimand severely
reprimand · read the riot act · dress down · dispute · falling-out · quarrel · tangle · lay into · call on the carpet · altercation · take to task · berate · tell off · squabble · clash · feud · spat · fight
- disagreementsdisagree, argue, dispute, quarrel, argument
- word phrasesword for word, take my word, in a word, word of mouth, word to the wise
- conflictclash, fight, war, battle, dispute
- conflictsargument, fight, war, battle, dispute
- conversationschat, talk, discussion, discuss, chatter
have wordsmake peace
Resolve conflict between parties
reconcile · make up · agree · see eye to eye · come to terms
have wordsignore
Refuse to notice
avoid · stonewall · hold one's tongue · clam up · bite one's tongue
have, words, behave, had, having, misbehave, misbehavior, behaving, behaved