rough-and-tumble

[ ruhf-uhn-tuhm-buhl ]

adjective

1. characterized by violent, random, disorderly action and struggles:

   a rough-and-tumble fight; He led an adventuresome, rough-and-tumble life.

2. given to such action.

noun

1. rough and unrestrained competition, fighting, struggling, etc.

rough-and-tumble

noun

1. a fight or scuffle without rules

adjective

1. characterized by roughness, disorderliness, and disregard for rules or conventions

Word History and Origins

Origin of rough-and-tumble¹

First recorded in 1785–95

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

His youngest son, Orange Scott, was a rough-and-tumble trickster and a terrible tease.

From The Daily Beast

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.

From The Daily Beast

In that rough-and-tumble era, wire cages surrounded many basketball courts to protect spectators from the players, and visa versa.

From The Daily Beast

For many fans, her hardscrabble youth and rough-and-tumble style were viewed as endearing strengths.

From The Daily Beast

While at the Tribune, Axelrod rose to city hall bureau chief, covering the rough-and-tumble politics of the Windy City.

From 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.

From Project Gutenberg

Then it was that they had time to observe what had escaped their notice in the rough-and-tumble of the mêlée.

From Project Gutenberg

Maybe it was more practical than rough-and-tumble individualism.

From Project Gutenberg

The former had hurt one of her forefeet on the previous day during the "rough-and-tumble" descending into the valley.

From Project Gutenberg

I know it is, said Locke with a sigh, as he thought of his own rough-and-tumble practice.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disorderly
• rough
• rugged
• strenuous
• tempestuous
• turbulent