Olive branch
What it means
A gesture offered to restore peace or goodwill.
Reach for it when naming a conciliatory gesture intended to reopen peace or goodwill
Her sincere apology offered an olive branch after the dispute.
Words to choose between 6
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm |
|
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
-
everyday
peace offering
Fits when a concrete gesture seeks reconciliation
Careful An offering can be symbolic without addressing the harm.
-
everyday
Fits when hostility pauses by agreement
Careful A truce is reciprocal and may not repair goodwill.
-
professional
gesture of goodwill
Fits when positive intent should be stated neutrally
Careful Goodwill can stop short of repairing the dispute.
-
professional
reconciliation bid
Fits when a deliberate attempt to restore relations is meant
Careful Bid sounds strategic rather than heartfelt.
-
formal
Fits when an initial proposal opens negotiation
Careful An overture need not be peaceful or apologetic.
-
literary
hand extended
Fits when a human image of renewed contact suits
Careful The metaphor is less established and may be ambiguous.
Opposites 3
- provocation
- ultimatum
- hostile gesture
Common phrases 3
-
extend an olive branch
The chair chose to extend an olive branch after the vote.
-
offer an olive branch
Her private apology offered an olive branch without demanding forgiveness.
-
accept the olive branch
Both neighbors agreed to accept the olive branch and meet.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
An olive branch starts reconciliation; it does not replace accountability, repair, consent, or changed behavior.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Commander Keane, Australian accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated