Definition

1. Noun:
   • A prolonged and violent conflict between families, clans, or groups, characterized by a cycle of retaliatory killings: A "blood feud" is a state of ongoing vendetta where members of opposing parties seek revenge by murdering each other. It is often inherited across generations.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The two families were locked in a bitter blood feud that had lasted for decades.
  • The murder was not an isolated crime but part of an ancient blood feud between the clans.

Advanced Usage

• "to be embroiled in a blood feud": to be deeply involved in such a conflict.
  • The entire village was embroiled in a blood feud that no one could remember starting.
• "to settle a blood feud": to resolve or end such a conflict.
  • The elders met for days, trying to find a way to settle the blood feud.

Variants and Related Words

• Feud (n): A prolonged and bitter quarrel or dispute, which may or may not involve violence.
  • Their feud over the property lasted for years.
• Vendetta (n): A blood feud; a prolonged bitter quarrel with a campaign of revenge.
  • He swore a vendetta against the men who had killed his brother.

Synonyms

• Vendetta: A bitter, long-term rivalry or feud, often involving revenge.
• Clan war: A war or feud between clans or family groups.

Related Phrases

• Cycle of violence: A recurring pattern of retaliation and revenge, central to a blood feud.
  • The blood feud perpetuated a tragic cycle of violence.
• Family feud: A bitter quarrel between families, which may escalate into a blood feud.
  • What began as a simple disagreement turned into a deadly family feud.

Related Idioms

• Bad blood: Feelings of hatred or animosity between people or groups, which can be the foundation for a feud.
  • There has been bad blood between those two families for generations.
• An eye for an eye: The principle of retaliation, which is the driving force behind a blood feud.
  • Their culture followed an "eye for an eye" philosophy, leading to endless blood feuds.

Noun

1. a feud in which members of the opposing parties murder each other