bone of contention
noun
a subject, cause, or focal point of a dispute: The terms of the old man's will were a bone of contention to his survivors.
Origin of bone of contention
First recorded in 1705–15
Words nearby bone of contention
bone marrow transplantation,
bone mass,
bone matrix,
bone meal,
bone mineral density,
bone of contention,
bone oil,
bone porcelain,
bone shaker,
bone spavin,
bone to pick
British Dictionary definitions for bone of contention
bone of contention
noun
the grounds or subject of a dispute
Idioms and Phrases with bone of contention
bone of contention
Main issue of a disagreement; something to quarrel about. For example, Grandfather's will was a bone of contention for the whole family. This expression alludes to two dogs fighting (contending) over a single bone. In slightly different guise, bone of dissension, it was used figuratively in the 16th century and took its present form in the early 1700s.