How do you say “Have a bone to pick with someone” in Spanish?
The closest natural Spanish equivalent is tener una cuenta que ajustar con alguien, 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. A Spanish equivalent for an unresolved complaint. It can suggest settling a score, so it may sound stronger than the English. Register: informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural Spanish
tener una cuenta que ajustar con alguien
/teˈneɾ ˈuna ˈkwenta ke axusˈtaɾ kon ˈalɣjen/
- Literal meaning
- “to have an account to settle with someone”
- Register
- informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Close equivalent
86 out of 100
What a native Spanish speaker would actually say
The account image points to something the speaker feels is still owed. It can be about a grievance rather than actual money.
Use care with a minor complaint between friends. A direct explanation of the problem will often sound less threatening.
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.
Spanish
Tengo una cuenta que ajustar contigo: me devolviste la bicicleta con una rueda pinchada.
English
She has a bone to pick with the organiser about the missing refund.
Spanish
Tiene una cuenta que ajustar con el organizador por el reembolso que aún no ha recibido.
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