olive branch
12
3.7
- noun
- /ˈɑlɪv bræntʃ/
- Informal
- After the argument, she offered an olive branch in the form of an apology.
Loading YouTube…
Watch on YouTubeBut 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'.