tooth and nail Thành ngữ, tục ngữfight tooth and nailfight fiercely or with all onego at it tooth and nailIdiom(s): fight sb or sth hammer and tongs AND fight sb or sth tooth and nail; go at it hammer and tongs; go at it tooth and nailTheme: FIGHTING to fight against someone or something energetically and with great determination. (All have fixed order.) They fought against the robber tooth and nail. The dogs were fighting each other hammer and tongs. The mayor fought the new law hammer and tongs. We'll fight this zoning ordinance tooth and nail. hammer and tongs|fight|fight tooth and nail|hammeradv. phr. Violently. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been at it all day, hammer and tongs.tooth and nail(See fight tooth and nail)tooth and nailFuriously or fiercely; with all of one's strength and effort. I know my brother has fought tooth and nail to be re-elected, so his victory tonight is certainly well earned. The elite troops have been placed around the perimeter to defend the palace tooth and nail from rioters.Learn more: and, nail, toothtooth and nail, fight/withFight vigorously, with all ones resources. The analogy to biting and scratching was drawn by the sixteenth century and has been used ever since for fierce contention or, by extension, effort. Dickens used it in David Copperfield (1850): I go at it tooth and nail.Learn more: and, fight, tooth |
