no holds barred

See also: no-holds-barred

English

Alternative forms

• no-holds-barred

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Adjective

no holds barred (not comparable)

1. (wrestling) Without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do.

   a no holds barred match

2. (figurative) Having absolutely no limits or restrictions as far as the levels and nature of one's hostilities and offense; taking to an especially ruthless or vicious manner.

   a no holds barred debating style that quickly transformed into cheap shots and bickering

   • 2016 May 8, Albert R. Hunt, “Trump and Clinton Campaigns Gear Up for a Slugfest”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     There isn’t much reason to be optimistic about thoughtful dialogue in this general election. Both sides are girded for a negative, no-holds-barred slugfest.

   • 2021 March 22, Neil Vigdor, Michael Majchrowicz, Azi Paybarah, “Miami Beach, Overwhelmed by Spring Break, Extends Emergency Curfew”, in The New York Times‎^[2], →ISSN:

     Among them was Ryan Ferchaud, 37, a tourist from Memphis who mostly faulted groups of college students for what she said was their no-holds-barred attitude regarding the mayhem.

   • 2022 February 28, Steven Erlanger, quoting Douglas Lute, “After a Fumbled Start, Russian Forces Hit Harder in Ukraine”, in The New York Times‎^[3], →ISSN:

     “But the Russian doctrine of mass firing and no holds barred was visible in Chechnya, and there is the potential that Russia will get its act together tactically, and that will result in mass fire against population centers.”

Translations

in wrestling: without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do

• Finnish: ilman kiellettyjä otteita, ei kiellettyjä otteita
• Polish: bez ograniczeń

idiomatic: having absolutely no reserve or restrictions in lengths; in an especially ruthless or vicious manner

• Finnish: kaikki sallittu
• Italian: senza esclusione di colpi
• Polish: wszystkie chwyty dozwolone

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• French: sans restrictions (literally “without/no restrictions”)
• German: alles ist erlaubt (literally “all is allowed”)
• Italian: senza regole, senza restrizioni (literally “without/no restrictions”)
• Portuguese: sem impedimento (literally “without/no impediments”)
• Spanish: todo vale (literally “everything is valid”)

See also

• all-in wrestling
• boots and all
• pull one's punches