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You are here: Home / Language / Where Did the Phrase “I’ve Got a Bone to Pick” Come From and What Does The Expression Mean?

Where Did the Phrase “I’ve Got a Bone to Pick” Come From and What Does The Expression Mean?

February 26, 2020 by Karen Hill

Wild pack animals will eat from a carcass only after the alpha male has finished.

Having a bone to pick establishes superiority and comes from an ancient Sicilian wedding ritual.

At dinner’s end, the bride’s father would give the groom a bone and instruct him to pick it clean.

This ritual signaled the groom’s authority over his new wife, establishing that in all future decisions, he would have the final word.

When looking for a showdown or fight, we often say, “I’ve got a bone to pick”.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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