At Loggerheads
Pedagogically reviewed by LexFizz Team
In strong, unresolved disagreement or conflict with another person or group.
Quick meaning: If two people or groups are "at loggerheads," they are in serious disagreement and cannot find common ground. For example, if the two sides of a negotiation are at loggerheads, they are stuck — neither is willing to compromise.
Meaning
To be at loggerheads with someone means to be in a state of persistent, serious conflict or disagreement with them, typically one where no resolution is in sight. The dispute is entrenched: both parties hold firm to their positions and refuse to back down. It implies a standoff rather than a temporary argument.
The phrase is often used in political, business, and diplomatic contexts to describe prolonged disputes. Two countries might be at loggerheads over trade policy. A board of directors could be at loggerheads with shareholders. Family members can be at loggerheads over an inheritance. The common thread is a deep, stubborn clash of opposing positions.
It always requires two parties — you are at loggerheads with someone, not simply "at loggerheads" in isolation. The preposition "with" typically follows the idiom.
Origin
The word "loggerhead" originally referred to a large, round-headed tool used to heat tar or liquids, consisting of a long handle with a metal ball at the end. When two people fought with these tools, they would literally bang their loggerheads together — a noisy, stubborn, and often inconclusive clash. This image of two heavy heads meeting in brute force became a metaphor for intractable argument.
Another theory links the phrase to the large, blockish heads of loggerhead turtles or cattle, suggesting stubbornness and hard-headedness. Shakespeare used the word "loggerhead" as an insult meaning "blockhead" or "thickhead," reinforcing the idea of stubbornness. Figurative expressions of this kind are the sort of entry catalogued by major reference works such as the Cambridge Dictionary, which track how idiomatic meanings develop and spread.
The phrase "at loggerheads" meaning "in conflict" appears in English from the late 17th century and has been in continuous use ever since, particularly in British English.
Example Sentences
The two departments have been at loggerheads for months over how the annual budget should be divided.
Britain and France were at loggerheads with each other throughout much of the 18th century.
She and her business partner found themselves at loggerheads over the direction the company should take, and eventually decided to part ways.
Dialogue Example
A: Has the planning committee approved the new development yet?
B: No — the council and the developers are still at loggerheads over the height restrictions. It could be another six months before they reach an agreement.
Usage Notes
This idiom is more common in British English than American English, though it is understood in both. It tends to appear in more formal or journalistic contexts rather than casual conversation. The standard construction is "at loggerheads with [someone] over [something]." You can also say "come to loggerheads," though this is less frequent.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes say "in loggerheads" instead of "at loggerheads" — always use "at." Also remember the phrase requires two parties; you cannot be at loggerheads alone. The correct preposition that follows is "with": "at loggerheads with the committee," not "at loggerheads to the committee."
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Quick Check: At Loggerheads
2 questions — test what you just learned.
1. What does “At Loggerheads” mean?
2. Complete the sentence: “The two departments have been _____ for months over how the annual budget should be divided.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "at loggerheads" mean?
It means to be in a state of serious, entrenched disagreement or conflict with another person or group, where neither side is willing to give way.
How do you use "at loggerheads" in a sentence?
The standard pattern is "be at loggerheads with [someone] over [something]": "The unions are at loggerheads with management over the proposed redundancies."
Where does "at loggerheads" come from?
It likely comes from "loggerhead," a heavy iron tool with a ball at one end used to heat tar. Two people fighting with these tools would bang their loggerheads together in a stubborn, inconclusive clash — a vivid image for intractable argument.
Is "at loggerheads" British or American English?
It is more common in British English. American speakers tend to use phrases like "at odds" or "deadlocked," though "at loggerheads" is understood in American English too.
What is the difference between "at loggerheads" and "at odds"?
"At loggerheads" implies a more intense, entrenched conflict and is more formal/British. "At odds" is slightly softer and more general, and is common in both BrE and AmE.
Can one person be "at loggerheads"?
No — the phrase always involves two parties in conflict with each other. You are always "at loggerheads with" someone else, never alone.
What preposition follows "at loggerheads"?
Always "with": "at loggerheads with the government." The issue or topic of dispute is introduced with "over": "at loggerheads with each other over the contract terms."
Is "at loggerheads" used in everyday conversation?
It appears more in journalism, formal reports, and political commentary than in casual conversation, though it is not so formal that it would sound strange in everyday speech.
What are some synonyms for "at loggerheads"?
Synonyms include "at odds," "in dispute," "in conflict," "deadlocked," "at an impasse," and "at daggers drawn" (which suggests even more intense hostility).
What English level is "at loggerheads" suitable for?
It is rated at B2 (Upper Intermediate). The idiom involves an unusual and now archaic word, so learners need to encounter it in context to understand and use it naturally.