Word
olive branch
Definition
n. A sign or offer of peace, reconciliation, or goodwill.
n. An offer of peace or a gesture of reconciliation, especially one made to end a quarrel or dispute; commonly "hold out" or "extend an olive branch".
Examples
“She held out an olive branch and apologised first.”
“After weeks of tension, the manager offered an olive branch by inviting the whole team to lunch.”
“The minister's speech, presented as an olive branch to the opposition, was read by critics as a tactical pause rather than a genuine offer of peace.”
Examples
simple
“She held out an olive branch and apologised first.”
contextual
“After weeks of tension, the manager offered an olive branch by inviting the whole team to lunch.”
complex
“The minister's speech, presented as an olive branch to the opposition, was read by critics as a tactical pause rather than a genuine offer of peace.”
Etymology
The image comes from the flood narrative in Genesis 8:11. As the waters recede, Noah sends a dove out from the ark, and it returns with a freshly plucked olive leaf in its beak. The green leaf tells Noah that the flood is subsiding and that dry land, and life, has re-emerged. The moment marks the end of the catastrophe and the resumption of peace between the world and the sky above it.
The olive was already a symbol of peace and plenty in the ancient Mediterranean, so the dove and the leaf together became a lasting emblem of reconciliation. English inherited the pairing wholesale.
To offer or hold out an olive branch now means to make a gesture of peace or goodwill, an attempt to end a quarrel and reconcile. The phrase is used of everything from diplomacy between nations to a quiet overture after a family argument.
Original etymology written by Shinotoshi Nakamura.
Stories
Exodus & the Promised Land · See all Biblical origin
Israel's escape from Egypt and the long march to Canaan.
the promised land — A long-awaited goal or destination that promises freedom, reward, or a better life.
manna from heaven — An unexpected benefit or help that arrives just when it is needed most.
let my people go — A demand for the freedom of an oppressed group from those who hold power over them.
a land flowing with milk and honey — A place of great abundance, comfort, and prosperity.
scapegoat — a person or group that people blame for something bad, even if it is not their fault. You use this when someone else is punished to make a problem go away.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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