fighting to the death
Battle without surrender
Fighting to the death describes combat that continues until one participant dies.
The phrase often appears in historical or fictional contexts—gladiators fighting to the death in Roman arenas, duels that permit no surrender.
Figuratively, it describes any conflict pursued with absolute commitment: The two companies are fighting to the death over market share.
- battleArmed military engagement
- warArmed struggle between groups
- final battleDecisive concluding combat
- last standUltimate defensive effort
- no surrenderRefusal to yield
to the last man · combat · mortal · struggle · kill or be killed · gladiator · blood sport · trial by combat · samurai · honor bound · duel · blood feud · deathmatch · killings · survival · do or die · conflict · martyrdom
fighting to the deathsparring
Practice combat training
training exercise · exhibition match · shadowboxing · war games · friendly competition
fighting to the deathmaking peace
Ending hostilities between parties
peaceful coexistence · reconciliation · embracing · reconciling · burying the hatchet
fighting to the deathsurrendering
Ceasing to resist
capitulating · giving up · laying down arms · yielding · throwing in the towel
fight, fighting, fighter, fighters, fights, fought, death, deaths, deathly