At sword’s point
Also, at swords’ points. Antagonistic, hostile, as in Father and son were at swords’ points. Dating from the days when swords were used to settle quarrels, the idiom today generally signifies only a bitter quarrel.
Read Also:
- Sword
a weapon having various forms but consisting typically of a long, straight or slightly curved blade, sharp-edged on one or both sides, with one end pointed and the other fixed in a hilt or handle. this weapon as the symbol of military power, punitive justice, authority, etc.: The pen is mightier than the sword. a […]
- Hussein
Also, Hosein, Husain. (al-Husayn) a.d. 629?–680, Arabian caliph, the son of Ali and Fatima and the brother of Hasan. Saddam [sah-dahm] /sɑˈdɑm/ (Show IPA), (at-Takriti) 1937–2006, Iraqi political leader: president 1979–2003. 1935–1999, king of Jordan 1953–99. Contemporary Examples There’s almost no way the regime would have fallen absent the death of Hussein and his sons. […]
- At that
(used to indicate a person, thing, idea, state, event, time, remark, etc., as pointed out or present, mentioned before, supposed to be understood, or by way of emphasis): That is her mother. After that we saw each other. (used to indicate one of two or more persons, things, etc., already mentioned, referring to the one […]
- At that point
Also, at that point in time. Then, as in At that point we had finished the first batch of cookies and begun the second. This phrase refers to a particular time when an event or circumstance occurred, as opposed to “now” (see at this point). [ Second half of 1900s ]
- At that stage
see: at this stage