knockdown dragout

/ˈnɑkˌdaʊn ˈdræɡˌaʊt/
adjective
  1. Very violent, intense, or bitter; involving a fierce struggle or fight.
    • The two politicians had a knockdown-dragout debate on live television.
    • The movie features a knockdown-dragout battle between the heroes and villains.
    • It was a knockdown-dragout argument that lasted for hours.
What does "knockdown dragout" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean