Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- a subject, cause, or focal point of a dispute: The terms of the old man’s will were a bone of contention to his survivors.
noun
- the grounds or subject of a dispute
Main issue of a disagreement; something to quarrel about. For example, Grandfather’s will was a bone of contention for the whole family. This expression alludes to two dogs fighting (contending) over a single bone. In slightly different guise, bone of dissension, it was used figuratively in the 16th century and took its present form in the early 1700s.