Etymology The olive branch has been regarded as a symbol of peace since Ancient Greek times. For example, in Virgil’s Aeneid (written between 29 and 19 B.C.E.), Aeneas holds an olive branch and declares that it bears the following message: “The Trojans and their Chief / Bring holy peace; and beg the King’s relief.” The symbolism was strengthened by the reference in Genesis 8:11 of the Bible to Noah sending out a dove from the Ark which returns bearing an olive leaf in its beak, thus showing that the Great Flood is receding.
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A branch of an olive tree offered as an emblem of peace.
I appeal to you to enable our people to establish national independent sovereignty over its own land. / Today I have come bearing an olive branch and a freedom-fighter's gun. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat: do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. / War flares up in Palestine, and yet it is in Palestine that peace will be born.1974 November 13, Yasser Arafat, “Agenda Item 108: Question of Palestine”, in United Nations General Assembly Twenty-ninth Session Official Records: 2282nd Plenary Meeting, A/PV.2282 and Corr.1, archived from the original on 19 Jun 2017, paragraphs 81–83:
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Figuratively Any symbol of peace, or a peace offering to an adversary to show goodwill and in the hope of securing peace.
extend an olive branch
His [George W. Bush's] remarks came after Britain offered a diplomatic olive branch to Iran earlier in the day to try to secure an early release of the prisoners.2007 April 1, Ned Temko, Mark Townsend, Jason Burke, “Iran snubs UK olive branch: George Bush denounces capture and calls for hostages to be freed”, in The Observer, London, archived from the original on 03 Oct 2014:
3 more examples
On immigration in particular, the change of tone was jarring, even from within the speech itself. Amidst warning of the threats posed by illegal immigration to jobs and safety, the president [Donald Trump] seemingly extended an olive branch to his opponents.2017 March 1, Anthony Zurcher, “Trump addresses Congress: A kinder, gentler president”, in BBC News, archived from the original on 05 Jun 2017:
Beijing has offered some olive branches. On Thursday, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said China would welcome a visit from U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, in response to Ms. Yellen’s statement earlier this week that she still hoped to go.2023 February 10, Vivian Wang, “China, Still Trying to Play Down Balloon, Finds It’s Getting Harder to Do”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 15 Mar 2023:
Mr. Ramaphosa entered the meeting seemingly optimistic about maintaining a cordial conversation with Mr. Trump. He offered olive branches to Mr. Trump, including a book about golf. He complimented Mr. Trump’s décor in the Oval Office.2025 May 21, Erica L. Green, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, “Trump Lectures South African President in Televised Oval Office Confrontation”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 22 May 2025:
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Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: A branch of an olive tree.
Derived terms
Olive Branch route
olive-branch
verb
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To extend an olive branch; to make a peace offering; to attempt to restore peaceful relations.
As she looked at this bunch of too-full-blown roses, and realized the message that it was intended delicately to convey, the dove-like and olive-branching sentiments departed from her breast—and in their place came sentiments compounded of daggers and bow-strings and very poisonous bowls!1914, Thomas Allibone Janvier, At the Casa Napoleon, page 140:
That was intricate reporting plus reasoning plus olive-branching and remonstrating.1989, Albert Norman, The Falkland Islands, Their Kinship Isles, the Antarctic Hemisphere, & the Freedom of the 2 Great Oceans, page 218:
2 more examples
The frantic olive-branching of America while consistently berating black men has worn me down.2007, William Jelani Cobb, The Devil and Dave Chappelle: And Other Essays, page 15:
“Let me help you out,” I olive-branched him, “I do know what you pulled me for; I crossed the double yellow line.2016, Jeff Scot Philips, Big Fat Food Fraud: Confessions of a Health-Food Hustler: