olive branch

[ ol-iv branch ]

noun

1. a branch of the olive tree as an emblem of peace:

   One of their national emblems is a white dove clutching the olive branch of peace.

2. any token of peace:

   The new prime minister has pursued a reconciliation strategy, extending an olive branch to dissidents and rebel groups.

   Still in a snit, she snubbed his olive branch a few days later by blocking his phone call.

olive branch

noun

1. a branch of an olive tree used to symbolize peace
2. any offering of peace or conciliation

olive branch

1. The branch brought by a dove to Noah 's ark signifying that the flood was receding.

Notes

An olive branch is now regarded as a sign of peace, as is the dove. ( See hawks and doves .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of olive branch¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English

Idioms and Phrases

A symbol of peace, an offering of good will, as in They feuded for years, but finally the Hatfields came over bearing an olive branch . This term is alluded to in the Bible (Genesis 8:11), where the dove comes to Noah after the flood with an olive leaf in its mouth. [c. 1600]

Example Sentences

The junta extended an olive branch Thursday as it struggled to fight on multiple fronts and stem a widespread rebellion.

From BBC

Is this an olive branch from Prince Harry?

From BBC

With their decidedly more centrist message, Harris and Walz are offering an olive branch and permission structure to leave a man who has shown in words and deeds that he will harm them.

From Salon

“I think it’s the ultimate olive branch to the environmental community,” he said, and a “show of good faith on the part of the city.”

From Los Angeles Times

Yet he may also extend a tentative olive branch to Beijing, welcoming renewed talks if China’s leader, Xi Jinping, sets aside his key precondition: that Taiwan accept that it is a part of China.

From New York Times

Related Words

• overture