duking out

Duking out describes settling a dispute or competition through direct confrontation, whether physical fighting or intense verbal argument.

The phrase comes from dukes, slang for fists, so to duke it out originally meant to fight with your hands.

Now it applies more broadly to any head-to-head contest where opponents go at each other until one prevails: The two candidates are duking it out in the primaries.

Let's duke it out on the basketball court.