rough-and-tumble

adj.
Characterized by roughness and disregard for order or rules: rough-and-tumble politics.

n.
A condition marked by rough disorderly struggle; infighting: the rough-and-tumble of national politics.

adjective

Marked by vigorous physical exertion: knockabout, rough, rugged, strenuous, tough. See action/inaction.

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]

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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: disorderly fighting
  Synonyms: hassle, scuffle, tussle

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The adjective rough-and-tumble has one meaning:

Meaning #1: characterized by disorderly action and disregard for rules

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