handbags at ten paces
Synonym of handbags at dawn (“a catty squabble”).
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The two neighbors are having handbags at ten paces again.”
“The meeting turned into handbags at ten paces when the two managers started arguing over the office budget.”
“What began as a professional disagreement quickly devolved into handbags at ten paces, with both parties trading petty insults rather than discussing the actual project.”
- 01
a hundred and ten percent
A level of effort beyond what one can usually sustain; great exertion.
- 02
card of ten
A bold front, an instance of standing one's ground.
- 03
change of pace
A shift from one activity to another
- 04
cock and Hen
[Cockney slang]ten
- 05
count to ten
An expression used to describe or recommend a process for pausing to regain one's composure when one is on the verge of losing one's temper.
- 06
five will get you ten
I strongly believe.
- 07
handbags at dawn
A catty squabble.
- 08
keep pace
To run at the same speed as a pacesetter
Last updated August 10, 2026