Let's say my shirt has been ruined by a dry-cleaner and I am very furious about it, so I am going back there. My friend asks me where am I going.
I can say
I am going back to the dry cleaner's to have a word with him about my t-shirt.
What I want to say is that I am going there to criticize or to yell at him for ruining my shirt, To say 'to have a word with him' seems very polite and using confront seems very violent, but I might be wrong.
What is the correct/more appropriate word here for to have a word?
Best Answer
To have a word with him would be correct in the context. While it is typically used to mean to have a (brief) private conversation with him, it's also a common euphemism for exactly what you want to say.
A similar phrase that is possibly more appropriate is to have words with. Note the change from a word to words. This expression typically implies a harsher, more critical tone.