Have a bone to pick with someone
/hæv ə bəʊn tə pɪk wɪð ˈsʌmwʌn/informalUK · US
What does “Have a bone to pick with someone” mean?
Have a bone to pick with someone means to have a complaint you want to discuss with someone
“I’ve got a bone to pick with you” signals that a complaint is coming. The next sentence usually explains what the other person did.
A smiling delivery may introduce a minor annoyance. Without that friendly tone, the same words can sound like the start of an argument.
When do people say it?
Often used to open a conversation about something that annoyed you. It can sound playfully serious or genuinely confrontational.
“I've got a bone to pick with you: you returned my bike with a flat tyre.”
Is it formal or informal?
Register: informal. It is most at home in everyday conversation rather than formal writing. Most common in UK and US.
Where does it come from?
The bone is something left to work on. In the idiom, it stands for an unresolved complaint between people.
Origin confidence: Disputed; treat with caution
How do you say “Have a bone to pick with someone” in other languages?
Related idioms
- An axe to grind, A personal agenda or grievance
Last updated 2026-10-01