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cross swords

Fight, either verbally or physically. For example, At every policy meeting the two vice-presidents crossed swords. This phrase alludes to the ancient form of combat using swords. Also see at sword's point.

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Example Sentences

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Because of their ubiquity, on the island and globally, foxes are a cute, however curious, choice over which to cross swords.

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“The Defiant Ones” remained one of Mr. Poitier’s favorite films, but to get the part he had to cross swords with Samuel Goldwyn, who was assembling a cast for “Porgy and Bess.”

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“They either had nothing to say or show on due diligence on forced labor, or they were unwilling because they won’t cross swords with Beijing,” said Bennett Freeman, a former State Department official who sent the emails to the I.O.C. on the coalition’s behalf.

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At the age of 35, Ronaldo might not get too many more chances to cross swords with Messi.

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The kids exercise their active imaginations in the woods, where they pretend to shoot arrows and cross swords in combat.

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cross stroke crosstalk

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