Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

gloves are off

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.03 in modern English

Syllables: gloves are off
IPA

22

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

1

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

phrase

Expressing that people are arguing or competing without regard to propriety, restraint, feelings, or (even) safety.

Example Sentences

"The gloves are off in this match; both teams are purposely committing fouls against opposing players!"
"In the early years after 9/11, it was often said of antiterrorism that "the gloves are off now.""
"The gloves were off at the Conservative Party annual conference in Manchester on October 2, with Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper spending much of his speech attacking Labour and the unions."

Etymology

One possible etymology comes from the sport of boxing, where competitors fistfight wearing padded gloves; removing the gloves during a fight could result in serious physical injury. Another comes from the trend of gentlemen wearing gloves as part of their outfit; these gloves would often be taken off before engaging in rough behavior. Compare throw down the gauntlet.

Inflected Forms

gloves come off (alternative)

Phrases

when push comes to shove when the chips are down in a pinch knockdown-dragout take off one's gloves the knives are out

Frequently Paired Words

when push comes to shove when the chips are down in a pinch knockdown-dragout take off one's gloves the knives are out

Questions

What does gloves are off mean?: Expressing that people are arguing or competing without regard to propriety, restraint, feelings, or (even) safety.
Where does gloves are off come from?: One possible etymology comes from the sport of boxing, where competitors fistfight wearing padded gloves; removing the gloves during a fight could result in serious physical injury. Another comes from the trend of gentlemen wearing gloves as part of their outfit; these gloves would often be taken off before engaging in rough behavior. Compare throw down the gauntlet.

How to pronounce gloves are off

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