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 likes of Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Barclays are extending an olive branch by taking on additional hires, raising salaries, enforcing no-work-on-Saturday rules and even offering Pelotons, Apple Watches and luxury vacations to employees.

From Ozy

Interestingly, the holder has a USB-C charging port instead of the Lightning port you’ll find on the PowerBeats pro—another little olive branch to Android users who are likely flush with USB-C cables and chargers.

From Popular-Science

Manchin offered that base something of an olive branch Wednesday — a chance to at least try his approach.

From Washington Post

Harry and Meghan would be likely to accept any proffered olive branch, not least because it would be a sound commercial decision.

From The Daily Beast

In 1896, the winners received a silver medal, a certificate and olive branches.

From Washington Post

Before “we” might offer “you” an olive branch, you must offer one to us.

From The Daily Beast

It was a gracious touch, a rhetorical olive branch to his vanquished foes.

From The Daily Beast

Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein took to the op-ed page of The Wall Street Journal to offer an olive branch of sorts.

From The Daily Beast

The Syrian democracy movement and the international community should offer an olive branch to senior officers in the Syrian army.

From The Daily Beast

“The company approached the situation with a club as opposed to an olive branch,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

It seems that Mr. Adams would have presented the sword boldly, keeping the olive branch carefully concealed behind his back.

From Project Gutenberg

Burn the male olive-branch and the pine twig and juniper, and let the blazing laurel crackle amid the hearth.

From Project Gutenberg

The olive branch held out by the workers after their victory over the Pinkertons has been refused.

From Project Gutenberg

The crest of the clan was a mailed hand holding an olive branch, and the motto was "Not too much."

From Project Gutenberg

This poem was the olive-branch that Robert was about to snatch from the tomb.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• overture