rough-and-tumble
1 of 2noun
rough-and-tum·ble ˌrə-fən-ˈtəm-bəl 
: rough disorderly unrestrained fighting or struggling
also : infighting
rough-and-tumble
2 of 2adjective
1
: marked by rough-and-tumble
grew up in a rough-and-tumble atmosphere
E. J. Kahn
E. J. Kahn also : rough-and-ready
2
: put together haphazardly : makeshift
a rough-and-tumble fence
Synonyms
Noun
- affray [chiefly British]
- brawl
- broil
- donnybrook
- fracas
- fray
- free-for-all
- melee
- mêlée
- row
- ruckus
- ruction
Adjective
- artless
- clumsy
- crude
- jerry-built
- jerry-rigged
- jury-rigged
- rough
- rough-and-ready
- rough-hewn
- rude
- unrefined
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1810, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1
rough-and-tumbles
noun
as in brawls
a rough and often noisy fight usually involving several people a rough-and-tumble broke out among the fans in the stands Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- brawls
- mêlées
- clashes
- altercations
- ruckuses
- fracases
- affrays
- broils
- melees
- fracas
- rows
- donnybrooks
- skirmishes
- ructions
- free-for-alls
- scuffles
- frays
- tussles
- fisticuffs
- arguments
- horseplays
- battles
- kickups
- struggles
- scrimmages
- disputes
- conflicts
- contests
- scraps
- squabbles
- handgrips
- combats
- spats
- quarrels
- hassles
- tiffs
- wrangles
