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Words and Their StoriesLearning Expressions with VOA
Processed with VS1Name a concern you want to discuss and describe an issue that keeps causing disagreement.
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Source: VOA Learning English · Words and Their Stories
View original article & transcriptThe episode explores ways to talk about unresolved conflict. A bone of contention is a subject that people repeatedly argue about; if no one addresses a concern, it may fester or someone may stew over it. “I have a bone to pick with you” signals that you want to discuss a problem, though a calmer opening may work better in a tense moment.
Cultural note: “I have a bone to pick with you” can sound confrontational because it signals that the other person caused a problem. It may be playful among close friends, but at work or during a sensitive conversation, a direct and neutral opener—“Could we talk about what happened?”—can lower the temperature. Do not treat the article’s proposed history as settled without stronger evidence.
Keep exploringA missed commitment keeps creating tension between friends. How can you identify the recurring disagreement and open a conversation without turning it into a shouting match?
Phrase guide · 5 expressions
Original explanations and examples, created for learners. Save a card for later or hear the phrase spoken by your browser.
Signal that you want to discuss a problem with someone.
Meaning
Want to discuss a problem that you believe the other person caused.
Tone & use
Informal and potentially confrontational. Use it when the relationship and tone can handle directness; otherwise begin with a calm, specific request to talk.
Example
“I have a small bone to pick with you: the shared calendar still lists the old meeting time.”
Meaning
Discuss a problem with the person involved.
Tone & use
A relatively neutral way to describe raising a concern. Name the issue clearly and focus on what happened.
Example
“She took up the billing error with customer support and included the invoice number.”
Name the issue people keep disagreeing about.
Meaning
An issue that repeatedly causes disagreement.
Tone & use
Often used to name the subject of a dispute, not to address the other person directly.
Example
“The team’s rotating weekend schedule became a bone of contention after two people were assigned every holiday.”
Describe privately worrying about an issue or letting it grow.
Meaning
Allow an unresolved problem to grow more serious or painful over time.
Tone & use
Suggests that delay is making the situation worse. It is not a medical diagnosis when used about disagreements.
Example
“Rather than let the scheduling mistake fester, they clarified the plan before the next shift.”
Meaning
Keep thinking about a problem while feeling upset or worried.
Tone & use
Informal and usually describes a person’s private reaction. It does not necessarily mean they have talked to anyone yet.
Example
“He stewed over the comment all afternoon, then asked his colleague what she meant.”
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