hammer and tongs

English

Pronunciation

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Adverb

hammer and tongs (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic) In a manner indicating seriousness of intent and capability of harm.

   When they had an argument they went at it hammer and tongs.

   • 1928, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, chapter XIV, in Lady Chatterley’s Lover, [Germany?]: Privately printed, →OCLC:

     She sort of let things go, didn't get me a proper dinner when I came home from work, and if I said anything, flew out at me. And I flew back, hammer and tongs.

Synonyms

• hot and heavy
• intensely
• no holds barred

Derived terms

• tooth and tong

Translations

With tools indicating seriousness of intent and capability of harm

Icelandic: (go at something hammer and tongs) ganga í af lífs og sálar kröftum, (go at something hammer and tongs) leggja sig allan fram