# patch things up

idiom · CEFR B2 · Informal

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/patch-things-up
Updated: 2026-07-27

## 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.