extend an olive branch

Meaning

To 'extend an olive branch' means to make an offer of peace, reconciliation, or friendship to an adversary or someone with whom you have had a disagreement. It is a gesture intended to show a desire to end a conflict or dispute.

Examples

• After months of silence, she finally extended an olive branch by inviting him to coffee.

  After months of silence, she finally extended an olive branch by inviting him to coffee.

• The management extended an olive branch to the striking union members by proposing a new contract.

  The management extended an olive branch to the striking union members by proposing a new contract.

• He decided to extend an olive branch to his brother to resolve their long-standing family feud.

  He decided to extend an olive branch to his brother to resolve their long-standing family feud.

• It can be difficult to extend an olive branch when you feel that you were the one who was wronged.

  It can be difficult to extend an olive branch when you feel that you were the one who was wronged.

• The diplomat's speech was seen as an attempt to extend an olive branch to neighboring countries.

  The diplomat's speech was seen as an attempt to extend an olive branch to neighboring countries.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He gave an olive branch to his rival.

  ✓ He extended an olive branch to his rival.

  The standard, natural collocation is to 'extend' (or sometimes 'offer') an olive branch, rather than 'give'.

• ✗ She extended an olive tree to end the fight.

  ✓ She extended an olive branch to end the fight.

  The idiom specifically uses 'olive branch' (the ancient symbol of peace), not 'olive tree'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• They hadn't spoken in years, but he decided to __________ by sending a birthday card.

  💡 To make a gesture of peace or reconciliation.

  Show answer

  extend an olive branch

• The company attempted to __________ by offering a partial refund to the unhappy clients.

  💡 Use the base form of the verb to complete the infinitive 'to'.

  Show answer

  extend an olive branch