Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

at daggers drawn

/æt ˌdæɡəɹz ˈdɹɔn/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.01 in modern English

Syllables: at dag-gers drawn
IPA: /æt ˌdæɡəɹz ˈdɹɔn/

21

Scrabble Score

14

Letters

2

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

prep_phrase

In a state of open hostility.

British usage

Example Sentences

"And upon this point, vvere they at Daggers Dravvn vvith the Emperour."
"The new duke of Orléans, son of the Regent, was a callow and shallow youth and worse still—for the house of Condé, collateral with the Bourbons, was perennially at daggers drawn with the rival Orléans dynasty—had just married and already made his wife pregnant."
"But [David] Cameron nevertheless feels confident, because he is pretty sure that he has got Labour where he wants it, still off the centre ground on economic credibility and increasingly at daggers drawn with the Liberal Democrats, not least over the pivotal electoral event of this parliament, the AV referendum."

Etymology

Probably a reference to people preparing to fight by drawing their daggers from their sheaths. Compare French à couteaux tirés (literally “at daggers drawn”).

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /æt ˌdæɡəɹz ˈdɹɔn/
British English: /æt ˌdæɡəz ˈdɹɔːn/

Usage

British usage

Phrases

at daggers' drawing to daggers' drawing at each other's throats at loggerheads the knives are out

Frequently Paired Words

at daggers' drawing to daggers' drawing at each other's throats at loggerheads the knives are out

Synonyms

at daggers' points

Rhymes With

the darkest hour is just before the dawn ynys môn

Questions

How do you pronounce at daggers drawn?: The recorded pronunciation is /æt ˌdæɡəɹz ˈdɹɔn/.
What does at daggers drawn mean?: In a state of open hostility.
Where does at daggers drawn come from?: Probably a reference to people preparing to fight by drawing their daggers from their sheaths. Compare French à couteaux tirés (literally “at daggers drawn”).

How to pronounce at daggers drawn

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “at daggers drawn”.
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