Jump to:

• rough-and-tumble
  rough-and-tumble

  adjective

  characterized by violent, random, disorderly action and struggles.
• rough and tumble
  rough and tumble

  Disorderly scuffling or infighting, as in She had some reservations about entering the rough and tumble of local politics. This expression originated in the late 1700s in boxing, where it referred to a fight without rules. [Mid-1800s]

rough-and-tumble

American  

[ruhf-uhn-tuhm-buhl] / ˈrʌf ənˈtʌm bəl /

adjective

1. characterized by violent, random, disorderly action and struggles.

   a rough-and-tumble fight; He led an adventuresome, rough-and-tumble life.

2. given to such action.

---

noun

1. rough and unrestrained competition, fighting, struggling, etc.

rough-and-tumble British  

noun

1. a fight or scuffle without rules

---

adjective

1. characterized by roughness, disorderliness, and disregard for rules or conventions

rough and tumble Idioms  

1. Disorderly scuffling or infighting, as in She had some reservations about entering the rough and tumble of local politics. This expression originated in the late 1700s in boxing, where it referred to a fight without rules. [Mid-1800s]

---

Etymology

Origin of rough-and-tumble

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

Rough and tumble elections have happened before; they will again.

From Washington Times • Nov. 15, 2016

Rough and tumble campaign tactics are nothing new in New York politics, but those attacks were anonymous — and perfectly legal.

From New York Times • Feb. 4, 2014

"Rough and tumble it is!" cried Higgins, and grappled with bear-like arms.

From The Plunderer by Oyen, Henry

Rough and tumble is the word, but somehow in the midst of it all, her highness manages to make her mind known and off she flies with the lucky one.

From The Log of the Sun A Chronicle of Nature's Year by Beebe, William

Related Words

• disorderly
• rough
• rugged
• strenuous
• tempestuous
• turbulent