EFE learning modules / Handling Conflict & Disagreements

Handling Conflict & Disagreements @ Resolving misunderstandings with neighbors, roommates, or coworkers using calm and de-escalating language.

Common Expressions Back to Catalog

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Bury the hatchet

/ቤሪ ዘ ሐቸት/

ጠብን መርሳት

To end a conflict and become friendly again.

ግጭትን ማቆም እና እንደገና ጓደኛ መሆን።

In Practice

"We decided to bury the hatchet after our argument."
"It is time to bury the hatchet and work together."
Fluent Tip

Used when two parties decide to end a long-standing feud.

Clear the air

/ክሊር ዘ ኤር/

አለመግባባትን ማስወገድ

To remove tension by talking about a problem.

ስለ ችግር በመነጋገር ውጥረትን ማስወገድ።

In Practice

"We had a meeting to clear the air."
"I want to clear the air regarding what happened yesterday."
Fluent Tip

Used to address hidden tensions openly.

Meet halfway

/ሚት ሐፍዌይ/

መስማማት/መደራደር

To reach a compromise.

ስምምነት ላይ መድረስ።

In Practice

"We can meet halfway on the rent increase."
"Let's meet halfway to settle this dispute."
Fluent Tip

Used in negotiations to show willingness to compromise.

Smooth things over

/ስሙዝ ቲንግስ ኦቨር/

ነገሮችን ማለስለስ

To make a situation less tense or difficult.

ሁኔታውን አነስተኛ ውጥረት ወይም አስቸጋሪ ማድረግ።

In Practice

"I tried to smooth things over with my neighbor."
"He sent flowers to smooth things over."
Fluent Tip

Used when trying to calm someone after a disagreement.

Bite your tongue

/ባይት ዩር ታንግ/

ዝም ማለት

To stop yourself from saying something that might upset someone.

አንድን ሰው ሊያበሳጭ የሚችል ነገር ከመናገር ራስን መቆጠብ።

In Practice

"I had to bite my tongue during the meeting."
"Sometimes it's better to bite your tongue."
Fluent Tip

Used to describe self-restraint in a heated moment.

Bridge the gap

/ብሪጅ ዘ ጋፕ/

ልዩነትን ማጥበብ

To reduce the differences between two groups.

በሁለት ቡድኖች መካከል ያለውን ልዩነት መቀነስ።

In Practice

"We need to bridge the gap between roommates."
"They are trying to bridge the gap in their opinions."
Fluent Tip

Used for reconciliation and finding common ground.

Let bygones be bygones

/ሌት ባይጎንስ ቢ ባይጎንስ/

ያለፈው አልፏል

To forgive and forget past disagreements.

ያለፉ አለመግባባቶችን ይቅር ማለት እና መርሳት።

In Practice

"Let's let bygones be bygones and start fresh."
"They decided to let bygones be bygones."
Fluent Tip

Used when agreeing to move past old conflicts.

Keep a cool head

/ኪፕ ኤ ኩል ሄድ/

ረጋ ማለት

To remain calm in a difficult situation.

በአስቸጋሪ ሁኔታ ውስጥ ረጋ ብሎ መቆየት።

In Practice

"It's important to keep a cool head during an argument."
"She kept a cool head despite the noise."
Fluent Tip

Used to advise someone not to get angry.

Walk on eggshells

/ዎክ ኦን ኤግሼልስ/

በጥንቃቄ መያዝ

To be very careful not to offend someone.

አንድን ሰው ላለማስቀየም በጣም መጠንቀቅ።

In Practice

"I feel like I'm walking on eggshells around my roommate."
"We are walking on eggshells to avoid another fight."
Fluent Tip

Used when a situation is very sensitive.

Hash it out

/ሐሽ ኢት አውት/

ተወያይቶ መፍታት

To discuss something thoroughly until it is resolved.

አንድ ነገር እስኪፈታ ድረስ በደንብ መወያየት።

In Practice

"We need to hash it out today."
"Let's sit down and hash out our differences."
Fluent Tip

Informal way to suggest a deep discussion to fix a problem.

Bend over backward

/ቤንድ ኦቨር ባክዋርድ/

በጣም መጣር

To try very hard to please or help someone.

አንድን ሰው ለማስደሰት ወይም ለመርዳት በጣም መሞከር።

In Practice

"I bent over backward to make my neighbor happy."
"She is bending over backward to resolve the issue."
Fluent Tip

Used when someone goes to great lengths for peace.

Pour oil on troubled waters

/ፖር ኦይል ኦን ትራብልድ ወተርስ/

ነገሮችን ማረጋጋት

To say or do something to lessen anger or conflict.

ቁጣን ወይም ግጭትን ለመቀነስ አንድ ነገር መናገር ወይም ማድረግ።

In Practice

"His calm words poured oil on troubled waters."
"I tried to pour oil on troubled waters during the debate."
Fluent Tip

Used when someone acts as a peacemaker.