belligerence

all horns and rattles Belligerent; angry; enraged. The allusion is to the horns of cattle, used to butt or gore when these animals are angered; and to the rattles of rattlesnakes—horny, loosely connected rings at the end of the tail which are shaken vigorously in warning when this reptile is provoked to attack. The expression was originally used in reference to American cowboys, who because of their work would be closely associated with both cattle and snakes.

at daggers drawn or drawing About to quarrel; on the verge of open hostilities; at swords’ points. In the 16th century, gentlemen often carried daggers. When affronted by either look or gesture, these men would defend their honor by using the dagger.

a chip on one’s shoulder A quarrel-some or antagonistic disposition; the attitude of one spoiling for a fight; an un-forgiven grievance; usually in the phrase to have a chip on one’s shoulder. The following explanation of this American expression appeared in the May 183 Long Island Telegraph (Hempstead, N.Y.):

hawk An exponent of war; an adamant proponent of warlike policy. This term, clearly derived from the aggressive bird of prey, was first used figuratively by Thomas Jefferson in 1798, prior to the War of 1812. The expression was revived during President John F. Kennedy’s handling of the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. During the controversial Vietnam War, hawk became an American household word for any person in favor of the war, as opposed to dove ‘peace advocate.’

horn-mad Belligerent, infuriated; mad enough to butt or gore with the horns, as cattle. This term, which dates from at least 1721, appeared in The American Museum:

on the warpath Antagonistic, hostile, deliberately looking for a fight. The warpath was the route taken by the North American Indians on warlike expeditions. By extension, this Americanism came to refer to any individual or group preparing for war or behaving in a hostile, contentious manner.

speak daggers To speak in such a way as to offend someone, hurt someone’s feelings, or convey open hostility; to use words as weapons of attack; also look daggers.

trail one’s coat To spoil for a fight, to try to pick a fight, to look for trouble. This expression reputedly refers to an Old Irish custom whereby a person spoiling for a fight would drag his coat on the ground as provocation for another to step on it.