fighting words
fighting words · fighting wordses
Aggressive remarks that foreseeably may lead to a potentially violent confrontationAggressive remarks that foreseeably may lead to a potentially violent confrontation.
Meaning
2 senses(plural, usually plural)Aggressive remarks that foreseeably may lead to a potentially violent confrontation.
(plural, usually plural)Words or remarks that are often considered a form of mitigation for otherwise sanctionable behavior (such as fighting).