Correct Answer:
D. To be hostile
The idiom "At daggers drawn" describes a state of intense hostility or enmity between two or more parties. The imagery of daggers being drawn suggests a readiness for immediate and violent conflict, indicating a deep-seated animosity. Therefore, to be "at daggers drawn" means to be in a state of open hostility or bitter antagonism.
- A: To bear expenses means to cover costs, which is unrelated to conflict.
- B: To tolerate means to allow or endure something, which is the opposite of being hostile.
- C: To pay through nose means to pay an excessively high price, which is an idiom about cost, not hostility.
The phrase vividly conveys a situation where individuals or groups are fiercely opposed and ready to fight, making "To be hostile" the accurate meaning.