handbags at dawn: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 3.

  United KingdomGlobalhumorousliteralMachine
  • A mock or joking reference to a fight in which handbags are used as improvised weapons, imagined to occur at dawn.

  Examples

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  • They joked about settling their disagreement with handbags at dawn, imagining a silly fight.

    Bromeaban sobre resolver su desacuerdo con una pelea ficticia al amanecer, imaginando una pelea tonta.

  • The comedians referenced handbags at dawn as a ridiculous way to start a duel.

    Los comediantes hicieron referencia a 'handbags at dawn' como una forma ridícula de comenzar un duelo.

  • In the play, the characters threatened handbags at dawn, making the audience laugh at the absurdity.

    En la obra, los personajes amenazaron con pelear usando bolsos al amanecer, haciendo reír al público por lo absurdo.

• 2.

  New ZealandinformalfigurativesportingMachine
  • A public altercation between competitors, especially in sport, in which participants threaten or engage in physical confrontation but typically cause little real harm.

  Examples

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  • The two boxers had handbags at dawn before the match started, trading heated words.

    Los dos boxeadores tuvieron un altercado público antes de la pelea, intercambiando palabras acaloradas.

  • Fans enjoyed the handbags at dawn between rival teams during the championship game.

    Los aficionados disfrutaron de los enfrentamientos públicos entre equipos rivales durante el campeonato.

  • The football players’ handbags at dawn were more theatrical than harmful.

    Los altercados entre los jugadores de fútbol fueron más teatrales que dañinos.

• 1.

  United KingdomhumorouscolloquialfigurativeMachine
  • A petty, catty, or trivial quarrel, often characterized by sharp words or gossip rather than serious violence.

  Examples

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  • The office gossip turned into handbags at dawn over who got the promotion.

    El chisme en la oficina se convirtió en una pelea trivial por quién obtuvo el ascenso.

  • Their argument was just handbags at dawn, more about insults than actual conflict.

    Su discusión fue solo una pelea trivial, más sobre insultos que un conflicto real.

  • Jane and Lisa’s handbags at dawn over the seating arrangement amused everyone else.

    La pelea trivial entre Jane y Lisa por la disposición de los asientos divirtió a los demás.