bury the hatchet

Short definition: The phrase bury the hatchet means to end a disagreement and make peace with someone, choosing forgiveness over conflict, and agreeing to stop arguing so the relationship can move forward in a calmer, more positive way.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the phrase bury the hatchet? This idiom is very common in everyday English, especially when talking about ending conflicts or restoring relationships. To bury the hatchet means choosing to stop arguing and make peace after a disagreement. You will hear it in conversations about family issues, friendships, workplaces, and even politics. Below, each meaning is explained in a calm and natural way, with long definitions and realistic examples.

bury the hatchet idiom /ˈber.i ðə ˈhætʃ.ɪt/

Forms: bury the hatchet (fixed idiom)
Related: reconcile v., peace n., forgive v.
Syllable: bur-y the hat-chet

  1. (Idiom) To end a disagreement or conflict and agree to make peace.

    To bury the hatchet means deciding to stop fighting or arguing after a period of conflict. It often involves forgiveness, compromise, or simply agreeing to move on. The phrase suggests leaving past problems behind instead of continuing hostility. It is commonly used when people want to repair relationships.

    After years of tension, the two families finally agreed to bury the hatchet.
    They decided to bury the hatchet and focus on working together again.
    Sometimes it’s healthier to bury the hatchet rather than hold onto anger.

    Synonyms: make peace, reconcile, forgive and forget, settle differences, patch things up, call a truce, end hostility, resolve conflict, smooth things over, let bygones be bygones, restore harmony, mend relations
    Antonyms: hold a grudge, continue fighting, stay hostile, keep arguing, fuel conflict, seek revenge, reopen wounds, remain bitter, escalate tensions, prolong disputes, refuse peace, keep the feud alive

  2. (Idiom) To agree to move forward without bringing up past arguments again.

    Bury the hatchet can also emphasize a decision to stop revisiting old issues. Even if problems are not fully forgotten, they are no longer used as weapons. This meaning focuses on maturity and emotional growth. It often appears in long-term relationships or partnerships.

    They buried the hatchet and promised not to bring up old mistakes again.
    He suggested they bury the hatchet and start fresh.
    To move forward, both sides had to bury the hatchet completely.

    Synonyms: move on, start fresh, forgive the past, let go of resentment, leave it behind, close the chapter, turn the page, stop revisiting issues, make a fresh start, clear the air, reset the relationship, release bitterness
    Antonyms: dwell on the past, reopen arguments, keep resentment alive, relive conflicts, hold onto anger, bring up old issues, refuse closure, stay stuck, keep score, nurture resentment, cling to grudges, refuse to move on

Conversation Using the Idiom Bury the hatchet

During a family reunion, cousins Arthur and Beatrice discuss a long-standing disagreement that has finally been resolved. The conversation highlights the idiom bury the hatchet, which means to stop an argument or conflict and become friendly with someone again.

Arthur: I’m so glad that you and your brother finally decided to bury the hatchet after that huge argument last Christmas.

Beatrice: It was time; life is too short to hold onto a grudge, so we both agreed to bury the hatchet for the sake of the family.

Arthur: I read that the phrase bury the hatchet originates from a Native American tradition of literally burying weapons to symbolize peace.

Beatrice: I noticed that the atmosphere in the room changed completely once everyone saw the two of you bury the hatchet and shake hands.

Arthur: If you can bury the hatchet now, you’ll be able to enjoy the rest of the summer without all that unnecessary tension and stress.

Beatrice: I saw two rival political leaders bury the hatchet on the news today to work together on a new piece of legislation.

Arthur: It takes a lot of maturity to bury the hatchet when both sides still feel like they were originally in the right.

Beatrice: I agree; I’m just relieved that we were able to bury the hatchet before the reunion officially started this afternoon.

Arthur: I’m glad things are back to normal; by choosing to bury the hatchet, you’ve made everyone feel much more comfortable.

Beatrice: Me too; it’s a great feeling to bury the hatchet and move forward with a positive and supportive relationship again.

Phrases Containing the Expression Bury the Hatchet

The phrases below show how the expression bury the hatchet is used to describe ending a conflict, forgiving past disagreements, and choosing peace over continuing a fight.

Bury the hatchet

To end a conflict and forgive.

After years of misunderstanding, they finally decided to bury the hatchet and rebuild their relationship slowly.

Bury the hatchet with someone

To make peace with a specific person.

He reached out to bury the hatchet with his former colleague, realizing holding a grudge was only hurting himself.

Bury the hatchet after an argument

To reconcile after a fight.

They agreed to bury the hatchet after the argument and focus on solving the real problem together.

Bury the hatchet and move on

To forgive and continue forward.

It was healthier to bury the hatchet and move on rather than reopen old wounds every time they met.

Bury the hatchet for the sake of peace

To stop conflict to maintain harmony.

She chose to bury the hatchet for the sake of peace within the family.

Bury the hatchet at work

To resolve professional conflict.

They buried the hatchet at work so collaboration could improve and deadlines could be met.

Bury the hatchet after years

To reconcile after a long conflict.

After years of silence, they finally buried the hatchet and spoke openly about what went wrong.

Bury the hatchet publicly

To reconcile openly.

The two leaders buried the hatchet publicly to send a strong message of unity.

Bury the hatchet privately

To reconcile in private.

They preferred to bury the hatchet privately without involving others.

Bury the hatchet completely

To fully forgive.

He buried the hatchet completely and promised not to bring up the past again.

Bury the hatchet temporarily

To stop conflict for now.

They buried the hatchet temporarily to focus on the urgent project.

Bury the hatchet with dignity

To reconcile respectfully.

She buried the hatchet with dignity, choosing calm words over blame.

Bury the hatchet and cooperate

To forgive and work together.

They buried the hatchet and cooperated to achieve a shared goal.

Bury the hatchet after a misunderstanding

To reconcile after confusion.

Once the misunderstanding was cleared up, it was easy to bury the hatchet.

Bury the hatchet sincerely

To forgive genuinely.

He buried the hatchet sincerely, not just to be polite but to truly restore trust.

Bury the hatchet for teamwork

To reconcile to improve collaboration.

They buried the hatchet for teamwork, knowing conflict would only slow progress.

Bury the hatchet despite pride

To forgive even when it’s hard.

She buried the hatchet despite pride because the relationship mattered more than being right.

Bury the hatchet emotionally

To let go emotionally.

He buried the hatchet emotionally and finally felt lighter.

Bury the hatchet and rebuild trust

To forgive and restore confidence.

They buried the hatchet and slowly rebuilt trust through honest conversations.

Decide to bury the hatchet

To choose reconciliation.

At some point, you have to decide to bury the hatchet and stop carrying resentment.

Words Rhyme with bury the hatchet

worry the ratchet
scurry the gadget
hurry the bracket
flurry the packet
blurry the jacket
slurry the racket
merry the facet
carry the asset
marry the casket
tarry the basket
hatchet
ratchet
catch it
patch it
match it
latch it
snatch it
scratch it
dispatch it
detach it
attach it
jacket
bracket
packet
racket
locket
rocket
socket
pocket
market
POS: Verb Phrase