Phrase guide

at loggerheads

prep_phrase · 2 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /æt ˈlɒɡəhɛdz/
  • General-American: /æt ˈlɔɡɚˌhɛdz/
  • General-American: /ˈlɑ-/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

Unable to agree; opposing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • We were really at loggerheads about what to do with the money we found on the side of the road; she said we should turn it in, I said we should keep it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

in a dispute or confrontation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Sam and his parents were at loggerheads over the question of car privileges

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Uncertain; possibly from the use of a loggerhead (“metal tool consisting of a long rod with a bulbous end”) as a weapon during a fight.

Across languages

Translations

22 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 分歧 (fēnqí) — unable to agree; opposing
  • Chinese Mandarin: 不和 (bùhé) — unable to agree; opposing
  • Dutch: als kat en hond — unable to agree; opposing
  • Dutch: diametraal tegengesteld — unable to agree; opposing
  • Finnish: napit vastakkain — unable to agree; opposing
  • Finnish: tukkanuottasilla — unable to agree; opposing
  • French: comme chien et chat — unable to agree; opposing
  • French: diamétralement opposés — unable to agree; opposing
  • German: auf Kriegsfuß — unable to agree; opposing
  • German: in den Haaren — unable to agree; opposing
  • German: völlig uneins — unable to agree; opposing
  • Hungarian: hadilábon áll — unable to agree; opposing
  • Hungarian: faséban van — unable to agree; opposing
  • Icelandic: elda grátt silfur — unable to agree; opposing
  • Italian: ai ferri corti — unable to agree; opposing
  • Māori: pōngurunguru — unable to agree; opposing
  • Norwegian Bokmål: som hund og katt — unable to agree; opposing
  • Russian: в ссо́ре (v ssóre) — unable to agree; opposing
  • Russian: несогла́сный (nesoglásnyj) — unable to agree; opposing
  • Russian: на ножа́х (na nožáx) — unable to agree; opposing
  • Spanish: de pique — unable to agree; opposing
  • Spanish: a la greña — unable to agree; opposing