"no holds barred" meaning in English

See no holds barred in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

Audio: En-au-no holds barred.ogg
Head templates: {{en-adj|-}} no holds barred (not comparable)
  1. (wrestling) Without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do. Tags: not-comparable Categories (topical): Wrestling Synonyms: no-holds-barred Related terms: all-in wrestling, boots and all, pull one's punches Translations (in wrestling: without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do): ilman kiellettyjä otteita (Finnish), ei kiellettyjä otteita (Finnish), bez ograniczeń (Polish)
    Sense id: en-no_holds_barred-en-adj-1kCPV3Dl Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English negative polarity items, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Italian translations, Terms with Polish translations, Terms with Portuguese translations, Terms with Spanish translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 55 45 Disambiguation of English negative polarity items: 62 38 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 74 26 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 58 42 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 58 42 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 62 38 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 61 39 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 60 40 Disambiguation of Terms with Italian translations: 61 39 Disambiguation of Terms with Polish translations: 62 38 Disambiguation of Terms with Portuguese translations: 54 46 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 60 40 Topics: government, hobbies, lifestyle, martial-arts, military, politics, sports, war, wrestling Disambiguation of 'in wrestling: without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do': 88 12
  2. (figurative) Having absolutely no limits or restrictions as far as the levels and nature of one's hostilities and offense; taking to an especially ruthless or vicious manner. Tags: figuratively, not-comparable Translations (idiomatic: having absolutely no reserve or restrictions in lengths; in an especially ruthless or vicious manner): kaikki sallittu (Finnish), senza esclusione di colpi (Italian), wszystkie chwyty dozwolone (Polish)
    Sense id: en-no_holds_barred-en-adj-0oepaztd Categories (other): Terms with Portuguese translations Disambiguation of Terms with Portuguese translations: 54 46 Disambiguation of 'idiomatic: having absolutely no reserve or restrictions in lengths; in an especially ruthless or vicious manner': 14 86

Alternative forms

{
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "no holds barred (not comparable)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Wrestling",
          "orig": "en:Wrestling",
          "parents": [
            "Sports",
            "Human activity",
            "Human behaviour",
            "Human",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "55 45",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "62 38",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English negative polarity items",
          "parents": [
            "Negative polarity items",
            "Terms by semantic function"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "74 26",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "58 42",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "58 42",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "62 38",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Finnish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "61 39",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with French translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "60 40",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with German translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "61 39",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Italian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "62 38",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Polish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "54 46",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Portuguese translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "60 40",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Spanish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "a no holds barred match",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do."
      ],
      "id": "en-no_holds_barred-en-adj-1kCPV3Dl",
      "links": [
        [
          "wrestling",
          "wrestling#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "hold",
          "hold"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(wrestling) Without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do."
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "_dis1": "70 30",
          "word": "all-in wrestling"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "70 30",
          "word": "boots and all"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "70 30",
          "word": "pull one's punches"
        }
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "63 37",
          "word": "no-holds-barred"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "government",
        "hobbies",
        "lifestyle",
        "martial-arts",
        "military",
        "politics",
        "sports",
        "war",
        "wrestling"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "in wrestling: without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do",
          "word": "ilman kiellettyjä otteita"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "in wrestling: without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do",
          "word": "ei kiellettyjä otteita"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "in wrestling: without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do",
          "word": "bez ograniczeń"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "54 46",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Portuguese translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "a no holds barred debating style that quickly transformed into cheap shots and bickering",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2016 May 8, Albert R. Hunt, “Trump and Clinton Campaigns Gear Up for a Slugfest”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:",
          "text": "There isn’t much reason to be optimistic about thoughtful dialogue in this general election. Both sides are girded for a negative, no-holds-barred slugfest.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2021 March 22, Neil Vigdor, Michael Majchrowicz, Azi Paybarah, “Miami Beach, Overwhelmed by Spring Break, Extends Emergency Curfew”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:",
          "text": "Among them was Ryan Ferchaud, 37, a tourist from Memphis who mostly faulted groups of college students for what she said was their no-holds-barred attitude regarding the mayhem.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2022 February 28, Steven Erlanger, quoting Douglas Lute, “After a Fumbled Start, Russian Forces Hit Harder in Ukraine”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:",
          "text": "“But the Russian doctrine of mass firing and no holds barred was visible in Chechnya, and there is the potential that Russia will get its act together tactically, and that will result in mass fire against population centers.”",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Having absolutely no limits or restrictions as far as the levels and nature of one's hostilities and offense; taking to an especially ruthless or vicious manner."
      ],
      "id": "en-no_holds_barred-en-adj-0oepaztd",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(figurative) Having absolutely no limits or restrictions as far as the levels and nature of one's hostilities and offense; taking to an especially ruthless or vicious manner."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively",
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "14 86",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "idiomatic: having absolutely no reserve or restrictions in lengths; in an especially ruthless or vicious manner",
          "word": "kaikki sallittu"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "14 86",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "idiomatic: having absolutely no reserve or restrictions in lengths; in an especially ruthless or vicious manner",
          "word": "senza esclusione di colpi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "14 86",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "idiomatic: having absolutely no reserve or restrictions in lengths; in an especially ruthless or vicious manner",
          "word": "wszystkie chwyty dozwolone"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "audio": "En-au-no holds barred.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/aa/En-au-no_holds_barred.ogg/En-au-no_holds_barred.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/En-au-no_holds_barred.ogg"
    }
  ],
  "word": "no holds barred"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English negative polarity items",
    "English uncomparable adjectives",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Italian translations",
    "Terms with Polish translations",
    "Terms with Portuguese translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations"
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "no holds barred (not comparable)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "all-in wrestling"
    },
    {
      "word": "boots and all"
    },
    {
      "word": "pull one's punches"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples",
        "en:Wrestling"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "a no holds barred match",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "wrestling",
          "wrestling#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "hold",
          "hold"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(wrestling) Without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "government",
        "hobbies",
        "lifestyle",
        "martial-arts",
        "military",
        "politics",
        "sports",
        "war",
        "wrestling"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "a no holds barred debating style that quickly transformed into cheap shots and bickering",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2016 May 8, Albert R. Hunt, “Trump and Clinton Campaigns Gear Up for a Slugfest”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:",
          "text": "There isn’t much reason to be optimistic about thoughtful dialogue in this general election. Both sides are girded for a negative, no-holds-barred slugfest.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2021 March 22, Neil Vigdor, Michael Majchrowicz, Azi Paybarah, “Miami Beach, Overwhelmed by Spring Break, Extends Emergency Curfew”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:",
          "text": "Among them was Ryan Ferchaud, 37, a tourist from Memphis who mostly faulted groups of college students for what she said was their no-holds-barred attitude regarding the mayhem.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2022 February 28, Steven Erlanger, quoting Douglas Lute, “After a Fumbled Start, Russian Forces Hit Harder in Ukraine”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:",
          "text": "“But the Russian doctrine of mass firing and no holds barred was visible in Chechnya, and there is the potential that Russia will get its act together tactically, and that will result in mass fire against population centers.”",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Having absolutely no limits or restrictions as far as the levels and nature of one's hostilities and offense; taking to an especially ruthless or vicious manner."
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(figurative) Having absolutely no limits or restrictions as far as the levels and nature of one's hostilities and offense; taking to an especially ruthless or vicious manner."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively",
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "audio": "En-au-no holds barred.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/a/aa/En-au-no_holds_barred.ogg/En-au-no_holds_barred.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/En-au-no_holds_barred.ogg"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "word": "no-holds-barred"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "in wrestling: without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do",
      "word": "ilman kiellettyjä otteita"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "in wrestling: without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do",
      "word": "ei kiellettyjä otteita"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "in wrestling: without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do",
      "word": "bez ograniczeń"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "idiomatic: having absolutely no reserve or restrictions in lengths; in an especially ruthless or vicious manner",
      "word": "kaikki sallittu"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "idiomatic: having absolutely no reserve or restrictions in lengths; in an especially ruthless or vicious manner",
      "word": "senza esclusione di colpi"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "idiomatic: having absolutely no reserve or restrictions in lengths; in an especially ruthless or vicious manner",
      "word": "wszystkie chwyty dozwolone"
    }
  ],
  "word": "no holds barred"
}

Download raw JSONL data for no holds barred meaning in English (4.4kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-12-01 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-11-21 using wiktextract (95d2be1 and 64224ec). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.