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Region: US | Usage example: They buried the hatchet after years of rivalry.

Bury the hatchet

Meaning

Make peace after a quarrel.

Usage

Used during reconciliations or forgiveness moments.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Native American peace ritual of burying weapons.

Adopted into English in the 17th century.

Related Idioms

Bury the lede

Hide the most important information in a story or explanation.

Back to the drawing board

Return to planning stage after a failure.

Come up smelling like a rose

Emerging unscathed or admired after trouble.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.