heated exchange

Meaning

1. 1nouncountable

   A short, angry conversation in which people trade sharp or hostile remarks, short of an actual fight.

   Grammar: Usually has an or an: they had a heated exchange; plural when there are several rounds.

   Patterns

   • a heated exchange between someone and someone
   • a heated exchange with someone
   • a heated exchange over something

   The two neighbors had a heated exchange over the fallen fence.

   A heated exchange between the coach and the referee delayed the restart.

   Their heated exchange on the phone ended when she hung up.

Word forms

Common combinations

have a heated exchange

We had a heated exchange about who should pay for the repairs.

a heated exchange of words

The meeting broke up after a heated exchange of words.

a heated exchange between

A heated exchange between two candidates dominated the debate.

a heated exchange over

A heated exchange over parking spaces drew a small crowd.

erupt in a heated exchange

The quiet dinner erupted in a heated exchange about politics.

Synonyms and how they differ

argument

Argument is the general word and can be calm or loud, while heated exchange stresses that tempers were already rising.

row

Row is a British informal word for a noisy quarrel and sounds less formal and more personal than heated exchange.

spat

Spat suggests a petty, short quarrel over something minor, whereas a heated exchange can be about serious matters.

altercation

Altercation is more formal and may include physical contact, which heated exchange does not imply.

Opposites

Word family

heat noun

strong feeling, especially anger, during a discussion

heated adjective

full of anger or strong feeling

heatedly adverb

in an angry, excited way

exchange noun

a conversation or series of remarks between people

Commonly confused: heated exchange or heated debate?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “heated exchange”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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