Idiom idiom
patch things up
B2 Informal
Meaning
To repair a relationship after an argument — to make peace again. Usually used about friends, family, or couples. "After weeks of silence, they finally patched things up."
Examples
“The two friends patched things up after their fight.”
“My brother and I hadn't spoken in months, but we patched things up over dinner last weekend.”
“The negotiators spent all night trying to patch things up between two departments whose quiet rivalry had stalled the project for a year.”
Last updated July 27, 2026