noun

beef

beef, complaint, grudge

I would like to order the roast beef.

I would like to order the roast beef.

What's your beef with him?

What's your beef with him?

beef (uncountable) meat from a cow We had beef for dinner.

((a)) beef ((with sb.)) (informal) a complaint or argument with someone He has a beef with the new manager.

Synonyms: (meat) cattle meat; (complaint) grievance, dispute. Related: pork, chicken, lamb.

From Old French 'boef' (ox), from Latin 'bos' (ox, cow).

For the informal meaning 'complaint', imagine two large, 'beefy' bulls arguing or fighting.

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