cross swords

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cross swords (third-person singular simple present crosses swords, present participle crossing swords, simple past and past participle crossed swords)

1. Used other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see cross,‎ sword., to place or hold two swords so they cross each other.
2. To fight with someone; to duel.
3. (idiomatic) To quarrel or argue with someone; to have a dispute with someone.
   • 1902, Richard Bagot, Donna Diana‎, published 2008, →ISBN, page 240:

     You say that you do not see how you and I have crossed swords with the priests.

   • 1974, Ira Brown Cross, “The Knights of Labor”, in A history of the labor movement in California‎, →ISBN, page 179:

     Loring Pickering and George K. Fitch, the owners of these newspapers, had as early as 1870 crossed swords with the local typographical union, and had been defeated in a strike when they had attempted a reduction in wages.

   • 2002, Ukraine's Quest Roundtable Steering Committee, “Ukraine and Human Rights”, in Ukraine's Quest for Mature Nation Statehood - A roundtable‎, →ISBN, First Session, page 25:

     Crossing swords with oligarchs is one problem. An equally tough problem is crossing swords with the straight political elites, particularly the power ministries.

4. (idiomatic, vulgar) For males, to urinate simultaneously such that the streams intersect.

• (to have a dispute with someone): lock horns