no holds barred

Idioms and Phrases

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

“The Israelis have made it very clear that they would go in with no holds barred, this would be a massive operation,” said Mona Yacoubian, who heads the Middle East and North Africa Center at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington.

From New York Times

Writer and creator Knight promised the film would leave "no holds barred".

From BBC

Across the 27-nation EU, the political landscape is becoming increasingly polarized, with no holds barred between mainstream parties on the one hand and the bellicose populists and extremists on the other.

From Seattle Times

Also speaking to the Telegraph, former health secretary Sajid Javid called for "a no holds barred government investigation" into obstruction of the research.

From BBC

"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

Related Words

• angrily
• boldly
• brutally
• ferociously
• forcefully
• frantically
• furiously
• madly
• mightily
• passionately
• savagely
• severely
• vehemently
• viciously
• wildly