The gloves are off!
there's going to be a serious dispute
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
THE GLOVES ARE OFF. America’s Congress returns to work this week, after its Christmas break, with no sign of a let-up in the political battle over the economy.
The Economist
The Economist
Did you
know?
the gloves are off
idiom
- there is going to be a serious dispute
(McGraw-Hill Dictionary)
The world of sports has given us a wide range of expressions that are used in everyday English. Boxing is especially rife with idioms that have become common sayings. The phrase "the gloves are off" (also "take off the gloves") is one of these.
Imagine for a moment two boxers suddenly taking off their gloves during a match in an effort to inflict further damage. An already serious event would become even more dangerous. That's why we like to say "the gloves are off" if a discussion or argument becomes exceedingly fierce.
Here are other boxing idioms that you can use to fight your way through the day:
- in your corner = when someone is on your side of an argument or dispute (She's a good person to have in your corner during a negotiation)
- throw in the towel = to admit defeat, to give up (Under pressure from shareholders, the CEO decided to throw in the towel)
- below the belt = unfair actions or words (The comments he made during the meeting were simply below the belt)
- roll with the punches = to adapt to changing circumstances (If you want to be successful in today's global business environment, you have to be able to roll with the punches)
---
SYNONYMS
things are getting serious, all hell is going to break loose, the shit's going to hit the fan
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"The CEO has resigned, so the gloves are off now in the battle for power in the Board."
idiom
- there is going to be a serious dispute
(McGraw-Hill Dictionary)
The world of sports has given us a wide range of expressions that are used in everyday English. Boxing is especially rife with idioms that have become common sayings. The phrase "the gloves are off" (also "take off the gloves") is one of these.
Imagine for a moment two boxers suddenly taking off their gloves during a match in an effort to inflict further damage. An already serious event would become even more dangerous. That's why we like to say "the gloves are off" if a discussion or argument becomes exceedingly fierce.
Here are other boxing idioms that you can use to fight your way through the day:
- in your corner = when someone is on your side of an argument or dispute (She's a good person to have in your corner during a negotiation)
- throw in the towel = to admit defeat, to give up (Under pressure from shareholders, the CEO decided to throw in the towel)
- below the belt = unfair actions or words (The comments he made during the meeting were simply below the belt)
- roll with the punches = to adapt to changing circumstances (If you want to be successful in today's global business environment, you have to be able to roll with the punches)
---
SYNONYMS
things are getting serious, all hell is going to break loose, the shit's going to hit the fan
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"The CEO has resigned, so the gloves are off now in the battle for power in the Board."
