Phrase guide

have a bone to pick

verb · 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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1

verb

Meaning 1

To have a complaint or grievance (with somebody); to have a contentious issue to discuss.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

20 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: 'n appeltjie te skil hê — have a complaint or grievance
  • Chinese Mandarin: 有不滿 /有不满 (yǒu bùmǎn) — have a complaint or grievance
  • Chinese Mandarin: 有意見 /有意见 (yǒu yìjiàn) — have a complaint or grievance
  • Dutch: een appeltje te schillen hebben — have a complaint or grievance
  • Finnish: olla kana kynittävänä — have a complaint or grievance
  • French: avoir une dent contre quelqu'un — have a complaint or grievance
  • German: ein Hühnchen zu rupfen haben — have a complaint or grievance
  • Norwegian Bokmål: ha en høne å plukke med — have a complaint or grievance
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: ha ei høne å plukke med — have a complaint or grievance
  • Polish: mieć na pieńku — have a complaint or grievance
  • Polish: mieć kosę — have a complaint or grievance
  • Romanian: avea o nemulțumire — have a complaint or grievance
  • Romanian: avea o plângere — have a complaint or grievance
  • Romanian: avea ceva de reproșat — have a complaint or grievance
  • Romanian: avea o problemă de lămurit — have a complaint or grievance
  • Romanian: avea o răfuială — have a complaint or grievance
  • Russian: име́ть прете́нзию (imétʹ preténziju) — have a complaint or grievance
  • Scots: hae a craw tae pluck — have a complaint or grievance
  • Spanish: tener que arreglar las cuentas con alguien — have a complaint or grievance
  • Swedish: ha en gås oplockad — have a complaint or grievance