BONE OF CONTENTION Definition & Meaning

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bone of contention

noun

a subject, cause, or focal point of a dispute.
The terms of the old man's will were a bone of contention to his survivors.

bone of contention

noun

the grounds or subject of a dispute

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of bone of contention¹

First recorded in 1705–15

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Idioms and Phrases

Main issue of a disagreement; something to quarrel about. For example, Grandfather's will was a bone of contention for the whole family. This expression alludes to two dogs fighting (contending) over a single bone. In slightly different guise, bone of dissension, it was used figuratively in the 16th century and took its present form in the early 1700s.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“You know, there are things that I don’t entirely agree with. But it’s difficult for me to bring that up in an interview because then it creates a bone of contention,” he added.

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There should also be plenty of finance available for him to finally bring in a prolific centre forward to get Arsenal over the line in competitions - a bone of contention among supporters.

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For Emery and PSG it was worse, not helped by officiating that is still a bone of contention in Paris to this day.

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Another bone of contention this year is the dominance of Afrobeats, which has its roots in Nigeria and Ghana.

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However, the embargo has failed to achieve that objective and has become a bone of contention between Washington and its neighbours in the region.

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