hammer and tongs en · X
Pronunciation
Etymology
Perhaps from the use of a hammer and tongs by traditional blacksmiths. May also be suggestive of the manner in which the hammer is used.
Meanings
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(idiomatic) In a manner indicating seriousness of intent and capability of harm.
She sort of let things go, didn't get me a proper dinner when I came home from work, and if I said anything, flew out at me. And I flew back, hammer and tongs.
1928, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, chapter XIV, in Lady Chatterley’s Lover, [Germany?]: Privately printed, →OCLC:The lost time had been recovered at Lichfield, but Corbett and Walls continued to put the engine to it hammer and tongs all the way to Crewe.
1960 April 14, O. S. Nock, “British Locomotive Practice and Performance”, in Railway Magazine, page 268:When they had an argument they went at it hammer and tongs.
Trafton was personally challenged, in the Davenport hotel Saturday evening, and a handful of these birds from Rock Island heckled and "razzed" him into bets that he would be forced to take time before the end of the first quarter. Trafton bet till his money was gone and went into the game yesterday hammer and tongs.
1920 November 8, “Islanders and Staleys Battle To Scoreless Draw in Sensational Game”, in Quad City Times:
Deriveds
Synonyms
no holds barred · hot and heavy · intensely
Translations (4)
gl á mantenta (With tools indicating seriousness of intent and capability of harm) · gl en serio (With tools indicating seriousness of intent and capability of harm) · is leggja sig allan fram (With tools indicating seriousness of intent and capability of harm) · is ganga í af lífs og sálar kröftum (With tools indicating seriousness of intent and capability of harm)