People & relationships

Bury the hatchet

To stop arguing with someone and become friends again.

Examples

  • After years of silence, the two brothers finally buried the hatchet.
  • Let's bury the hatchet – life's too short to stay angry.

How to use it

Informal. Often with "finally" or "decide to".

Where it comes from

Usually linked to a peace custom among some Native American peoples, described by European settlers, of burying weapons when a conflict ended.