pick a fight / quarrel (with sb)

/pˈɪk ɐ fˈaɪt kwˈɒɹəl wɪð ˌɛsbˈiː/

/pˈɪk ɐ fˈaɪt kwˈɔːɹəl wɪð ˌɛsbˈiː/

[phrase]

to pick a fight / quarrel (with sb)

[PHRASE]

to intentionally start an argument or fight

Examples

1. European institutions are not afraid to pick a fight with companies such as Microsoft, Apple or Facebook about fair competition, tax evasion or data protection.

2. What to do when someone picks a fight with you?

3. Trump wasn't content to pick a fight with just one professional SPORT.

4. In this case, it could simply be that Hooke picked a fight with the wrong guy.