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Glite Dictionary
knockdown-dragout

knockdown-dragout

1 9.7
A very violent and long fight or argument
  • adjective
  • /ˈnɑkˌdaʊnˈdræɡˌaʊt/
  • NSFW
translation icon : violento
  • They ended their partnership after a knockdown-dragout argument about finances.

Examples

  • The two politicians had a knockdown-dragout debate on live television.

  • Last night, we witnessed a knockdown-dragout match!

  • It was a knockdown-dragout fight that left both competitors exhausted.

  • The debate turned into a knockdown-dragout fight.

  • The argument escalated into a knockdown-dragout that left both friends exhausted and bruised.

  • After heated discussions, their relationship ended with a knockdown-dragout fight that damaged their friendship.

  • During the match, it was a knockdown-dragout battle where each player fought fiercely for every point.

Synonyms

knock-down-and-drag-out
vsknockdown-dragout
  • NSFW
8.8

Very violent and intense, often about a fight or argument

is the identical meaning but written as an alternate hyphenated form
knock-down
vsknockdown-dragout
6.0

A very strong force that makes someone fall or feel unable to answer

is about prolonged extreme violence and heated confrontation rather than one blow

Antonyms

calm
735 1.0

Not showing strong feelings and being very still

peaceful
428 1.0

Calm and quiet, without noise or trouble

How Violent

knockdown-dragout
  • NSFW
1 9.7
violent
  • Offensive
∞ 2.5

Surface Forms

knockdown-dragout positive

Morphology

knockdown-dragout = knockdown + drag-out (semi-transparent) = down + out + knock + drag

Formally built from two verb-particle compounds ('knock down' + 'drag out'), the parts are clear but the combined idiomatic sense 'extremely violent or intense' is an idiomatic intensifier rather than a literal sequence of actions.

Etymology

The word knockdown-dragout comes from the plain actions knock down and drag out, which give a strong picture of someone being 'knocked to the ground' and 'dragged out'. So it describes a very violent, intense fight or argument.