Synonyms

tooth and nail

American

adverb

with all one's resources or energy; fiercely.

We fought tooth and nail but lost.

tooth and nail Cultural

To fight “tooth and nail” is to fight with the intensity and ferocity of a wild animal: “The resistance forces fought the invading troops tooth and nail.”

Etymology

Origin of tooth and nail

First recorded in 1525–35

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.

She has said she will “fight tooth and nail against any effort to further roll back these fundamental protections.”

From Slate • Mar. 17, 2026

ConocoPhillips is the country’s largest nonsovereign creditor and has been fighting tooth and nail to recoup the roughly $12 billion it is still owed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

Polly Portwin, from the Countryside Alliance, said the group would "fight tooth and nail" against the proposed law change.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

"We had to fight tooth and nail for that result," said Smith.

From Barron's • Oct. 12, 2025

That its director had to battle alone, tooth and nail, on behalf of 35 million black Americans.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

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