with the gloves off
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With or ready to dispense rough treatment, as in Prepared to oppose the council, the mayor marched into the meeting with the gloves off. This idiom alludes to old-style boxing, when gloves were not used. [Early 1800s]
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Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Words nearby with the gloves off
with reference to, withstand, with the best of them, with the best will in the world, with the exception of, with the gloves off, tongue in cheek, with, withy, withywind, witigo, witless
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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