Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

drop the gloves

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.99 in modern English

Syllables: drop the -gloves
IPA

23

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

2

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

Canadian usage; American usage

verb

To remove a prior impediment to action; to prepare for or engage in a dispute.

Canadian usage; American usage

Example Sentences

"Nobody used to care when players such as John Ferguson, Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe and Maurice Richard dropped the gloves, because they could play the game, too."
"But Bradley, who dropped the gloves on Gore in a combative debate Wednesday night and called the vice president chronically dishonest, ignored Sullivan's advice."

Etymology

From the practice of ice hockey players of removing their heavy gloves before striking blows in fistfights.

Usage

Canadian usage
American usage

Inflected Forms

drops the gloves (present, singular) dropping the gloves (participle, present) dropped the gloves (participle, past) dropped the gloves (past)

Questions

What does drop the gloves mean?: To fight.
Where does drop the gloves come from?: From the practice of ice hockey players of removing their heavy gloves before striking blows in fistfights.

How to pronounce drop the gloves

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