blood sport

American  

noun

1. any sport involving killing or the shedding of blood, as bullfighting, cockfighting, or hunting.

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blood sport British  

noun

1. any sport involving the killing of an animal, esp hunting

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Etymology

Origin of blood sport

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

"Amanda's an awful woman, of course," he said, "a backstabbing snob who treats her children as accessories and turns every encounter with her 'mum chums' at the school gates into a blood sport."

From BBC

For decades, redistricting in Los Angeles has been something of a blood sport.

From Los Angeles Times

Especially online, where pop fan allegiance can be a blood sport, the matchup became one to watch.

From New York Times

He had always detested traveling except by train, but hated even more what he saw as a “blood sport” pitting performer against audience.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s also an example of the plot’s relative shallowness and scripts more concerned with verbal blood sport than teasing out its characters’ interiority.

From Salon