pick a quarrel
Start a fight
To pick a quarrel is to deliberately provoke an argument or conflict, often over something trivial.
The phrase suggests the aggressor is looking for a fight rather than stumbling into one: He was in a foul mood and seemed determined to pick a quarrel with anyone who crossed his path.
Sometimes appears as pick a fight.
- instigateCause to begin
- looking for troubleActively seeking conflict
- hassleIrritating difficulty
- argumentReasoned case or dispute
- provokeIncite a response
spoiling for a fight · antagonize · goad · get a rise out of · spar · contentious · incite · rile · dispute · agitate · ruffle feathers · needle · bait · strife · confrontation · hostility · egg on · tension
interpersonal conflict initiation
pick a quarrelmake peace
Resolve conflict between parties
bury the hatchet · make amends · mend fences · patch things up · build bridges
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