The rioters were spoiling for a fight..

Superior English speaking skills is almost an insurance policy against career ups and downs. If you can speak English in India, you will not go without a job.

Our mantra for superior English speaking skills is continuous improvement and in that series, we discuss the phrase, “Spoiling for a fight” in this post.

Someone is spoiling for a fight with you if he comes and bangs your car, curses you while you politely apologize and stops you midway when you try to ignore him and walk away.

The riots were started by a group of mischievious elements spoiling for a fight

Someone who is looking for fight, someone who is trying to create opportunities for a fight.

1. The riot was caused by the radical elements who organized themselves in a procession and were roaming the streets spoiling for a fight.
2. The local bully was spoiling for a fight with me. However, when his crony told him that I was a karate black belt, he quietly slipped away.
3. There are losers on the road, always spoiling for a fight at the slightest provocation. You have to decide whether you want to waste your time with them and become like them or you want to move ahead.
4. Be careful and don’t get provoked. They are spoiling for a fight with us and if we react, we will be playing into their hands.

Use this phrase to describe someone deliberately needling people to pick fights with them.

Some more examples:

1. The opposition is spoiling for a fight and we have a lot of bills to clear in the parliament. Everyone keep their temper in check and do not respond to unnecessary provocation.
2. Rahul was spoiling for a fight with Ramesh. Ramesh’s bike brushing past him gave the perfect opportunity. He caught hold of the bike and started abusing Ramesh. Luckily, several students were around who stopped the two.