to settle a disagreement
1
3.1
- phrasal verb
- /ˈsɛtəl ə ˌdɪsəˈɡriːmənt/
:
resolver una disputa
- Of course, the law must change over time to reflect the will of the people as the body politic changes, but because people disagree about the direction legal change should take, we need procedures for settling such disagreements and for enacting particular understandings into law.
Examples
-
To settle a disagreement, the couple chose to seek help from a mediator who could assist them.
-
You should also be able to admit when you're wrong and settle disagreements by talking with each other honestly.
Blog text (11) -
To settle the disagreement over the bill, the lawmakers gathered in the Capitol Rotunda.
Fiction book (1996) -
And no one can stop Baude and Sachs from including within the scope of the "law of interpretation" such procedural rules for settling intracourt disagreement.
Academic text (2017) -
The President, as he did last year in Bali, will reinforce key principles: the need for peaceful resolution of disputes, unimpeded lawful commerce, freedom of navigation, and a rejection of the threat or use of force or economic coercion to settle disagreements.
Blog text (13) -
The two friends were able to settle a disagreement after discussing their differences calmly.
-
In order to settle a disagreement at work, the team held a meeting to address everyone's concerns.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
To end a disagreement by choosing a final outcome
623
3.3
To find an answer to a problem and end a disagreement
596
3.3
To end an argument by agreement or decision
485
3.2
To officially decide a dispute or question
215
3.7
To settle a disagreement by each side giving up something
89
3.4
To stop arguing and become friendly again
83
4.1
To accept a difficult situation or agree with someone after talking
38
5.1
To become friendly again after a disagreement
35
3.0
Decide together after talking about the terms
22
4.1
To reach an agreement with someone to end a dispute
22
3.8
Settle problems or disagreements by talking and finding a solution
20
3.4
To agree with someone after talking about the details
8
4.9
To reach an agreement to end a disagreement
5
3.4
To find a fair way to end a disagreement between people
3
4.7
Pay someone what you owe or agree to end a disagreement
1
9.4
To end an argument and become friendly again
Talk about things fully to reach an agreement when people disagree
To make different ideas or plans fit together
End arguments about a decision by giving a clear answer
Antonyms
How Resolved
∞
1.0
1
3.1
215
3.7
- Formal
801
3.7
66
3.2
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
settle + a + disagreement
The meaning 'to resolve a dispute' is directly and compositionally derived from 'settle' (to resolve) plus 'disagreement' (a clash of opinions); the article 'a' is semantically incidental. This is a common, literal verb + noun composition found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Settle a disagreement comes from the image of people literally settling down at a table to sort out a disagreement and make things calm. So, like paying a bill to finish a business, it now means 'to resolve a dispute'.