the gloves are off
/ðə ˈɡlʌvz ər ˈɒf/INFORMAL · C1
Meaning
people are ready to fight or argue without holding back
Examples
- 1Both candidates for head of year have stopped being polite: the gloves are off.
- 2Once the neighbours started parking across our drive, the gloves were off.
- 3My sister and I share a room, and since she borrowed my jeans without asking, the gloves are off.
- 4The two coffee chains used to ignore each other, but since one started copying the other's menu, the gloves are off.
- 5Is it true that the gloves are off between the two bakeries on the high street?
Grammar
A clause, often after now, once or when. are can change to were; gloves stays plural. Also take the gloves off.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about sports
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →the ball is in your courtit is now your turn to act or decideget the ball rollingto make something start happeningthrow in the towelto stop trying because you know you cannot succeeda level playing fielda situation where everyone has the same chancejump the gunto act too soon, before the right momentbelow the beltunfair and cruel, especially of a remark
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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