bone of contention

bone

 (bōn)

n.

1.

a. The dense, semirigid, porous, calcified connective tissue forming the major portion of the skeleton of most vertebrates. It consists of a dense organic matrix and an inorganic, mineral component.

b. Any of numerous anatomically distinct structures making up the skeleton of a vertebrate animal. There are more than 200 different bones in the human body.

c. A piece of bone.

2. bones

a. The skeleton.

b. The body: These old bones don't do much dancing anymore.

c. Mortal remains: His bones are buried up on the hill.

3. An animal structure or material, such as ivory, resembling bone.

4. Something made of bone or of material resembling bone, especially:

a. A piece of whalebone or similar material used as a corset stay.

b. bones Informal Dice.

5. bones The fundamental plan or design, as of the plot of a book.

6.

a. bones Flat clappers made of bone or wood originally used by the end man in a minstrel show.

b. Bones(used with a sing. verb) The end man in a minstrel show.

7. Vulgar Slang The penis.

v. boned, bon·ing, bones

v.tr.

1. To remove the bones from: bone a fish.

2. To stiffen (a piece of clothing) with stays, as of whalebone.

3. Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse with. Used especially of a man.

v.intr.

Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse.

Phrasal Verb:

bone up

Informal To study, often in preparation for an anticipated event: boned up for the final exam.

Idioms:

bone of contention

The subject of a dispute.

bone to pick

Grounds for a complaint or dispute.

in (one's) bones

In one's innermost feelings: knew in my bones that I was wrong.

to the bone

To an extreme degree: was chilled to the bone; cut the budget to the bone.

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[Middle English bon, from Old English bān.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

bone of contention

n

the grounds or subject of a dispute

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

bone′ of conten′tion

n.

the subject or focal point of a dispute.

[1705–15]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

bone of contention - the subject of a dispute; "the real bone of contention, as you know, is money" subject, theme, topic - the subject matter of a conversation or discussion; "he didn't want to discuss that subject"; "it was a very sensitive topic"; "his letters were always on the theme of love"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Translations

Zankapfel

bone of contention

n → pomo della discordia

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995