BONE OF CONTENTION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does bone of contention mean? 

• BONE OF CONTENTION (noun)
  The noun BONE OF CONTENTION has 1 sense:

1. the subject of a dispute

  Familiarity information: BONE OF CONTENTION used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BONE OF CONTENTION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The subject of a dispute

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

the real bone of contention, as you know, is money

Hypernyms ("bone of contention" is a kind of...):

subject; theme; topic (the subject matter of a conversation or discussion)

 Context examples 

It is possible that money has become a bone of contention, either with a spouse or a business partner/collaborator, and that you will need to have a heart-to-heart discussion.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Poor Mary little thought it would be such a bone of contention when she gave it me to keep, only two hours before she died.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)