at loggerheads

English

WOTD – 24 January 2010

Etymology

Uncertain; possibly from the use of a loggerhead (metal tool consisting of a long rod with a bulbous end) as a weapon during a fight.[1]

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /æt ˈlɒɡəhɛdz/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /æt ˈlɔɡɚˌhɛdz/, /ˈlɑ-/
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: at log‧ger‧heads

Prepositional phrase

at loggerheads

  1. (figuratively) Unable to agree; opposing.
    We were really at loggerheads about what to do with the money we found on the side of the road; she said we should turn it in, I said we should keep it.

Synonyms

Translations

References

  1. loggerhead, n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 1903.
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