at daggers drawn
at daggers drawn
in a state of bitter enmity
The image here is of the drawing of daggers as the final stage in a confrontation before actual fighting breaks out. Although recorded in 1668, the expression only became common from the early19th century onwards.
RELATED IDIOMS :
look daggers at
glare angrily or venomously at
The expression speak daggers is also found and is used by Shakespeare's Hamlet in the scene in which he reproaches his mother.
at daggers drawn :
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