olive branch
12
3.7
- noun
- /ˈɑlɪv bræntʃ/
- Informal
:
gesto de reconciliación
- After the argument, she offered an olive branch in the form of an apology.
But he said that we should extend olive branches to China and the USSR.
- But he said that we should extend olive branches to China and the USSR.
- You've, you've extended a huge olive branch here conditionally.
- And I think we just, nobody is extending the olive branch to the other.
- Why don't you just extend the olive branch?
- But these sort of pseudo peace treaties that they lay out their their proverbial olive branches, as it were, as a way to make things right.
- The olive branch, the olive branch That just feels like a needed thing.
Examples
-
The politician's speech included an olive branch to the opposition, suggesting a willingness to collaborate.
-
Please accept this olive branch... ...and I hope we can try again on better terms.
-
I will extend my olive branch one more time.
-
I just wanted to come by and extend an olive branch.
-
And when I offer you an olive branch, why do you ignore it?
Blog text (2) -
I'm extending an olive branch to Mrs. Roosevelt.
Fiction book (2002) -
In 1989, Gorbachev proved his sincerity, holding out an olive branch to both the United States and the Vatican.
Academic text (1996) -
After this straightforward condemnation of the goals and tactics of a government-funded arts establishment, the Working Group offered an olive branch.
Academic text (1999) -
He decided to extend an olive branch to his colleague to resolve their differences.
Synonyms
17
3.7
A gift or action that ends an argument and brings back friendship
Antonyms
How Peaceful
- Formal
509
4.1
171
4.0
17
3.7
- Informal
12
3.7
102
4.1
245
3.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
olive + branch
The sense 'a gesture or symbol of peace' is a culturally conventionalized meaning not predictable from the literal constituents 'olive' (a fruit/tree) and 'branch' (a twig); a B1 learner who only knows the word meanings would likely interpret it as a plant part rather than a peace offering. Although some languages/cultures also use an olive branch as a peace symbol, that historical/cultural background is required to derive the idiomatic meaning, making it non-compositional for most learners.
Etymology
The phrase olive branch may come from an old story in which a dove returned with an olive leaf after the flood, a sign that trouble was over, and people also offered an olive branch to show they wanted peace. So, today olive branch means 'a gesture to show you want peace'.