What Does “have words with someone” mean?
Definition:
If you have words with someone, you argue, quarrel, or speak angrily with them.
The origin of the idiom
The origin of the idiom dates back to the late 1700s. The expression was used interchangeably with the phrase ‘have a word with someone’, but now both phrases have different meanings.
Related idioms
have a word in someone’s ear.
have a word with oneself.
Example(s)
She had words with her son over his drug addiction.
I had to have words with her about that.
If he keeps on behaving like that, I’m going to have words with him.
My father often had to have words with me.
This idiom is in the language category.
