How do you say “Have a bone to pick with someone” in French?
The closest natural French equivalent is avoir un compte à régler avec quelqu'un, which literally means “to have an account to settle with someone”. English speakers use have a bone to pick with someone to mean to have a complaint you want to discuss with someone. An established equivalent for an unresolved grievance. It can sound stronger or more threatening than a light English complaint. Register: informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural French
avoir un compte à régler avec quelqu'un
/avwaʁ œ̃ kɔ̃t a ʁeɡle avɛk kɛlkœ̃/
- Literal meaning
- “to have an account to settle with someone”
- Register
- informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Close equivalent
88 out of 100
What a native French speaker would actually say
The French account is something between the two people that has not been settled. It is not necessarily a financial debt.
For a small annoyance, a friendly tone matters. If you want to avoid sounding confrontational, say directly what bothered you.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone3 out of 5
- Context4 out of 5
- Literal similarity1 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
In context
English
I've got a bone to pick with you: you returned my bike with a flat tyre.
French
J'ai un compte à régler avec toi : tu m'as rendu mon vélo avec un pneu à plat.
English
She has a bone to pick with the organiser about the missing refund.
French
Elle a un compte à régler avec l'organisateur au sujet du remboursement qu'elle attend toujours.
Related expressions
- What “Have a bone to pick with someone” means in English
- An axe to grind, A personal agenda or grievance
Last updated 2026-10-01