- To end a quarrel, conflict, or long-standing grudge; to make peace with an adversary.
Explanation
Origin
- Derived from a peacemaking custom of some Native American tribes.
- When tribes agreed to peace, they would ceremonially bury their weapons (like hatchets, tomahawks) in the ground to symbolize the end of hostilities.
- The practice was observed and documented by European colonists, and the phrase entered English.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Squash the beef (resolve a conflict/grudge, slang/urban)
- Let it go / Drop it
- Make nice
- Call it even (resolve a debt or dispute as settled)
- Get over it
Milder/Standard:
- Reconcile
- Make peace
- End the dispute / conflict / argument
- Resolve their differences
Situational Appropriateness
- Generally informal to semi-formal.
- The concept is universally understood, but the idiom itself might sound slightly clichéd or informal in very serious diplomatic or legal contexts.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Learners unfamiliar with the idiom might be confused by the literal image of burying a tool.
- Explain the Native American origin and the symbolic meaning of ending conflict.
Examples
- After years of bitter rivalry, the two companies decided to bury the hatchet and collaborate.
- Isn't it time you and your brother buried the hatchet? It was such a silly argument.
- Let's just bury the hatchet and move on.
Dialogue
Sarah: I saw Mark talking and laughing with Paul earlier. Weren't they furious with each other?
Mike: Yeah, they had a huge fight last month, but apparently, they met for coffee yesterday and decided to bury the hatchet.
Sarah: Wow, good for them. Life's too short to hold grudges like that.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Sometimes you just gotta bury the hatchet for your own peace of mind. #forgiveness #movingon
- Facebook Post: So happy my two friends finally buried the hatchet after their stupid argument! #friendship #reconciliation
- Article Headline Snippet: ... tech giants finally bury the hatchet over patent dispute.
Response Patterns
- Hopefulness (That's great news, I hope they can make it stick).
- Relief (Finally! It's about time).
- Suggestion (Maybe you should reach out first to bury the hatchet?).
- Skepticism (I'll believe it when I see it, Knowing them, it won't last).
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Asking what prompted the reconciliation (What made them decide to?).
- Discussing how the peace was made or will be maintained (How did they do it?, What are the terms?).
- Expressing hope for future positive relations.
Conversation Starter
- No.
- Describes an action taken or proposed to resolve an existing conflict.
Intonation
- Emphasis typically on bury and hatchet.
- They decided to BURY the HATCHET.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood by most generations. Perhaps feels slightly more traditional but is still in common use.
Regional Variations
- Common in most English-speaking regions.