slugged it out
Traded blows relentlessly
To slug it out is to fight or compete with sustained intensity until one side prevails.
The phrase suggests exchanging heavy blows—literal or figurative—without backing down: The two boxers slugged it out for twelve rounds.
It applies equally to business rivals, political opponents, or legal adversaries battling through a protracted dispute: The companies slugged it out in court for years.
- boxingCombat sport using fists
- competingContending for victory
- battleArmed military engagement
- fightPhysical or verbal conflict
- combatArmed hostile engagement
no holds barred · fought tooth and nail · contending · struggle · winning · tenacity · persevering · grit · grappling · knockdown · duke it out · persisting · enduring · debating · losing · brawling · wrestling · withstanding
slugged it outsurrendered
Ceased resistance formally
gave up · capitulated · threw in the towel · quit · yielded
slugged it outwalked away
Left by foot
fled · sidestepped · ran away · retreated · cut and run
slug, slugged, slugging, slugger, sluggers, slugs, outing, outward