have a fight

Meaning

This expression means to have a serious argument or disagreement with someone, typically involving anger or shouting. While it can occasionally refer to a physical struggle, in daily casual English, it almost always refers to a verbal dispute between friends, family members, or partners.

Examples

• My brother and I had a fight about who should wash the dishes.

  My brother and I had a fight about who should wash the dishes.

• They had a huge fight last night, but they are talking again today.

  They had a huge fight last night, but they are talking again today.

• I don't want to have a fight with you over something so small.

  I don't want to have a fight with you over something so small.

• Did you and Sarah have a fight? You both look really upset.

  Did you and Sarah have a fight? You both look really upset.

• We always have a fight when we try to plan our vacations.

  We always have a fight when we try to plan our vacations.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I made a fight with my boyfriend last night.

  ✓ I had a fight with my boyfriend last night.

  In English, we use the verb 'have' (or sometimes 'get into'), not 'make', to describe entering a verbal argument with someone.

• ✗ They had a fight about each other.

  ✓ They had a fight with each other.

  You have a fight 'with' a person, and 'about' or 'over' a topic or issue.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I don't want to ___ over money.

  💡 argue angrily

  Show answer

  have a fight

• Did you ___ with your roommate last night?

  💡 experience a verbal disagreement

  Show answer

  have a fight