rough-and-tumble
characterized by violent, random, disorderly action and struggles: a rough-and-tumble fight; He led an adventuresome, rough-and-tumble life.
given to such action.
rough and unrestrained competition, fighting, struggling, etc.
Origin of rough-and-tumble
1Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use rough-and-tumble in a sentence
His youngest son, Orange Scott, was a rough-and-tumble trickster and a terrible tease.
Mandelbaum began her climb to the top of the crime world as a peddler on the rough-and-tumble, bustling streets of New York City.
Meet 'The Queen of Thieves' Marm Mandelbaum, New York City's First Mob Boss | J. North Conway | September 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn that rough-and-tumble era, wire cages surrounded many basketball courts to protect spectators from the players, and visa versa.
For many fans, her hardscrabble youth and rough-and-tumble style were viewed as endearing strengths.
ESPN’s ‘The Price of Gold’ Revisits the Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan Scandal | Amy Zimmerman | January 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWhile at the Tribune, Axelrod rose to city hall bureau chief, covering the rough-and-tumble politics of the Windy City.
From Rick Stengel to David Axelrod, All of the President’s Journalists | Ben Jacobs | September 13, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
A good man mixes with the world in the rough-and-tumble, and takes his share of the dangers, and the falls, and the temptations.
God and my Neighbour | Robert BlatchfordThen it was that they had time to observe what had escaped their notice in the rough-and-tumble of the mêlée.
Colonial Born | G. Firth ScottMaybe it was more practical than rough-and-tumble individualism.
The Planet Strappers | Raymond Zinke GallunThe former had hurt one of her forefeet on the previous day during the "rough-and-tumble" descending into the valley.
The Home of the Blizzard | Douglas MawsonI know it is, said Locke with a sigh, as he thought of his own rough-and-tumble practice.
The Boss of Wind River | David Goodger (goodger@python.org)
British Dictionary definitions for rough-and-tumble
a fight or scuffle without rules
characterized by roughness, disorderliness, and disregard for rules or conventions
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with 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]
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse