at loggerheads

1. Engaged in a head-on dispute: “Labor and management are at loggerheads in this affair, and it may be some time before they can negotiate a settlement.”

Idioms and Phrases

Engaged in a quarrel or dispute, as in The two families were always at loggerheads, making it difficult to celebrate holidays together . This term may have come from some earlier meaning of loggerhead , referring either to a blockhead or stupid person, or to a long-handled iron poker with a bulb-shaped end that was heated in the fire and used to melt pitch. If it was the latter, it may have been alluded to as a weapon. [Late 1600s] For a synonym, see at odds .

Example Sentences

These two communities were at loggerheads after elections in 2007 - ethnic violence in which 1,200 people died nationwide.

From BBC

Meanwhile, Addis Ababa and Cairo have been at loggerheads for more than a decade over Ethiopia's construction of a vast hydroelectric dam on the River Nile.

From BBC

Weiss’ lengthy, biting response made it clear that the parties were at loggerheads and that Biden was in very hot water.

From Los Angeles Times

As it stands the Championship clubs are at loggerheads with the RFU and Premiership over how to structure the second tier and the return of promotion and relegation.

From BBC

He was often at loggerheads with his bosses.

From New York Times

Related Words

• aggressive
• antagonistic
• bellicose
• combative
• contentious
• hostile
• ornery
• quarrelsome