“Bury the hatchet” means to make peace after an argument or conflict. Today, people use it figuratively, but the phrase began as a more literal image connected to peace.
The expression is commonly linked to Native American peace practices. In some accounts, weapons such as hatchets or tomahawks were buried to symbolize the end of hostilities. That made the act a powerful sign that fighting was over.
English later adopted the image as an idiom. Once that happened, people could use it for everyday disagreements, not only war or formal peace agreements.
- Literal origin: Burying a weapon marked peace.
- Modern meaning: Two people stop fighting and reconcile.
- Example: After months of tension, the neighbors decided to bury the hatchet.
It is worth remembering that the phrase points back to Indigenous traditions, even though modern speakers usually use it as a general expression. Understanding that origin makes the idiom clearer and more meaningful.