Where does the saying "I've got a bone to pick with you" come from?

Question

Where does the saying "I've got a bone to pick with you" come from?

Answer 1

"Bone to pick," dates back to the 16th century, simply refers to a dog chewing endlessly on, and "picking clean," a large bone. A "bone to pick" is thus a subject or issue that is expected to require considerable discussion or argument. A similar phrase, "bone of contention," meaning an issue over which two people argue, also dates back to the 1500s and refers, appropriately, to two dogs fighting over an especially choice bone.

Answer 2

The OED (Oxford English Dictionary) indicates that having a bone to pick refers to having something that is occupying one as a bone occupies a dog.  If you've ever seen a dog with a bone, you know that he may gnaw, l**k, and toy with it single-mindedly for what seems ages.  That is the metaphor here.  Having a bone to pick with someone, however, has a slightly different meaning: "having a dispute to settle or discuss with someone".  While the OED seems to suggest that it arose from the same notion of a single dog being preoccupied with a bone, Christine Ammer believes that it refers, instead, to the manner in which two dogs may fight over a bone.  A bone to pick is first recorded in 1565 by James Colfhill: "I will add this, which may be a bone for you to pick on."

Answer 3

'I have a bone to pick with you'  is a very old saying coming from the 19th century which was first used the George Drake telling his assistant(using these words) after the assistant murdered his half brother. Old story i dont know how i still remeber it!

Answer 4

That's a good question." I've got a bone to pick with you" why didn't I think of it lol

Answer 5

Doggone it, I used to know that. I'll ask the wife - sinew that...