bare knuckle
/bɛrˈnʌkəl/
adverb
- In a fierce, direct, and often brutal manner, without rules or protection.
- The candidates went bare-knuckle in the final debate, attacking each other's character.
- She negotiated bare-knuckle, refusing to give an inch.
- They fought bare-knuckle in the alley behind the bar.
adjective
- Relating to boxing without gloves, or more generally, involving fierce, direct, and often brutal competition without rules or protection.
- The old bare-knuckle fights were much more dangerous than modern boxing matches.
- His bare-knuckle style of politics alienated many moderate voters.
- The two companies engaged in a bare-knuckle battle for control of the market.
Antonyms