Skip to content
ontologydriven
Sign out

Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

gloves are off en · X

Pronunciation

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.

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) Expressing that people are arguing or competing without regard to propriety, restraint, feelings, or (even) safety.
    • 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. 2023 October 18, Mel Holley, “Network News: Harper attacks Labour over strikes... but unions hit back”, in RAIL, number 994, page 18:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
gloves come off alternative lexicographic

Relateds

take off one's gloves · in a pinch (in an uncontrolled or difficult situation) · when the chips are down (in an uncontrolled or difficult situation) · when push comes to shove (in an uncontrolled or difficult situation) · the knives are out · knockdown-dragout