Phrase guide

at daggers drawn

prep_phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /æt ˌdæɡəz ˈdɹɔːn/
  • General-American: /æt ˌdæɡəɹz ˈdɹɔn/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɔːn

1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

In a state of open hostility.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: at daggers' points

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Probably a reference to people preparing to fight by drawing their daggers from their sheaths. Compare French à couteaux tirés (literally “at daggers drawn”).

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 勢不兩立 /势不两立 (shìbùliǎnglì) — in a state of open hostility
  • Finnish: sotajalalla — in a state of open hostility
  • French: à couteaux tirés — in a state of open hostility
  • Polish: z nożem w zębach — in a state of open hostility
  • Welsh: yn barod i ymladd — in a state of open hostility
  • Welsh: ar daro — in a state of open hostility
  • Welsh: am waed eich gilydd — in a state of open hostility
  • Welsh: yn benben — in a state of open hostility