down-and-dirty

[ doun-uhn-dur-tee ]

adjective

, Informal.

1. unscrupulous; nasty:

   a down-and-dirty election campaign.

2. earthy; funky.

down and dirty

adjective

1. ruthlessly competitive or underhand

   if Bush gets down and dirty the Governor will give as good as he gets

2. uninhibited; frank

Word History and Origins

Origin of down-and-dirty¹

First recorded in 1985–90

Related Words

• bawdy
• crude
• ribald
• vulgar