have a fight

You use the verb have followed by a fight. You can add adjectives to show how bad it was. For example, have a big fight or have a nasty fight. If you want to mention the other person, use with. You can say, "I had a fight with my brother." It is very flexible and works in many tenses.

Use this when talking about friends, family, or partners. It fits perfectly when describing a sudden blowout. Use it at a restaurant if you see a couple arguing loudly. Use it when texting a friend to explain why you are sad. It is great for storytelling because it sounds natural and direct.

Avoid this in very formal business meetings. Don't tell your boss, "I had a fight with the client." Instead, use had a disagreement. Also, don't use it for long-term wars or physical violence in a legal sense. If you just had a tiny 10-second debate, this phrase might sound too dramatic. It implies real anger was involved.

In English-speaking cultures, 'having a fight' is seen as a normal part of relationships. People often say it to vent their frustrations to friends. There is a common cultural idea of 'making up' after the fight. We often follow this phrase with details about who started it. It’s a very human, everyday expression of conflict.

You might hear get into a fight which sounds more accidental. Have a row is the British version of this phrase. If it’s a small, silly argument, we call it a spat. If you are no longer speaking, you might say you had a falling out. Each one changes the 'flavor' of the conflict slightly.