Bury the hatchet — To make peace; to end a quarrel, dispute, or period of hostility and become friendly again. It suggests deliberately setting aside a conflict.
Origin & History
The phrase comes from a Native American custom in which, on making peace, the leaders of formerly warring groups would literally bury their tomahawks or hatchets in the ground, putting their weapons out of reach as a sign that the fighting was over.
European settlers recorded the practice from the 17th century, and the figurative English expression 'bury the hatchet' was in use by the 18th century. It has meant 'to make peace' ever since, applied to everything from family rows to political disputes.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Context |
|---|---|
| After years of arguing, the two brothers finally buried the hatchet. | Family reconciliation |
| Isn't it time you buried the hatchet and moved on? | Encouraging peace |
| The rival firms buried the hatchet and agreed to work together. | Business |
| They buried the hatchet over a quiet dinner. | Personal reconciliation |
| The two politicians buried the hatchet for the good of the party. | Politics |
| We decided to bury the hatchet and forget the whole affair. | Mutual agreement |
How to Use It
This idiom is informal and means deliberately ending a quarrel and making peace. It is typically used as a full verb phrase, bury the hatchet (with someone), and often follows words such as finally or decide to. It implies a conscious choice to stop fighting.
Common Mistakes
Mistakes to Avoid
They buried the hatch after the argument.
They buried the hatchet after the argument. — The word is 'hatchet', not 'hatch'.
She buried the hatchet on her brother.
She buried the hatchet with her brother. — Use 'with' for the other person, not 'on'.
They dug up the hatchet to make peace.
They buried the hatchet to make peace. — Burying, not digging up, signals peace.
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