bare knuckles
Fists without protection
Bare knuckles describes fighting without gloves or protective gear—fists against flesh.
Boxing before the Queensberry rules was bare-knuckle fighting.
The phrase extends to any confrontation conducted without restraint or civility: bare-knuckle politics, a bare-knuckle negotiation.
The implication is rawness, aggression, and willingness to inflict damage.
- fistsTightly closed hands
- fisticuffsHand-to-hand combat
- slugfestProlonged violent exchange
- fightPhysical or verbal conflict
- throw handsEngage in physical combat
hand-to-hand · toe to toe · unarmed · rawness · pugilist · boxing · combat · brawl · uppercut · punching · haymaker · street fighting · back alley · no holds barred · martial · rough-and-tumble · prizefighting · blood sport
bare knucklesboxing gloves
Padded handwear for pugilism
padded gloves · gloved · hand wraps · MMA gloves · gauntlets
bare knuckleskid gloves
Fine leather handwear
velvet glove · diplomatic · gentle · soft touch · tactful
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