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Synonyms

no holds barred

Idioms  

  1. Without any restrictions, as in Telephone companies are entering the market for Internet users with no holds barred. This expression comes from wrestling, where certain holds are illegal, or barred, and has been used figuratively since about 1940.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"A no holds barred government investigation should be launched into this obfuscation, documents retrieved and, if necessary, individuals held accountable for failing to provide records."

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2024

Yes, they're all just letting their freak flags fly, no holds barred.

From Salon • Nov. 20, 2023

Quite apart from letter-perfect memorization of reams of dialogue, her comedic timing was innate, the planning meticulous and the performance no holds barred.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2023

"On any given day, I might be scared of Arnold, but when I get to play Barry, it’s no holds barred, and I get to hold him accountable," said Carter.

From Reuters • May 23, 2023

Spoade was the world’s champion sitter-around, no holds barred and gouging discretionary.

From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.