Needle-match Edit Meaning

1.

A spiteful exchange between two enemies each of whom seeks to injure the other.

It can be physical or verbal.

After a boundary dispute the croquet game degenerated into a needle-match.

It was clear across the hotel dining room that Rebecca and Susan were part-way through a needle-match. And I knew who would win. Susan was no match for Rebecca, with her mental agility and mordant wit.

See match, game, spite, grudge, dispute, argument, injury