have a bone to pick with sb

A: (Knock the door)

B: Coming.

A: I have a bone to pick with you.

Does it mean I have a problem with you? where does it originate from?

Thank you.

Hello Kanonathena

This means "I have a dispute or unpleasant matter to settle with you".

A similar Irish phrase is "I have a crow to pluck with you".

It seems to be a reference to picking the last bits of meat off a bone. This is a difficult business; the implication is that settling the dispute will mean a lot of difficult and detailed discussion.

(You'll also find suggestions on the internet that this relates to a custom at Sicilian weddings, but that sounds like a later rationalization to me.)

MrP

Hi, there's also a simliar idiom in my mother language, "pick a bone from an egg", it means someone's picky. but "have a bone to pick with sb" is obviously different in the meaning.Just for your information.