tooth-and-nail
With desperate intensity
Tooth-and-nail describes fierce, all-out effort using every available means: They fought tooth-and-nail for custody.
The image is of an animal attacking with both teeth and claws—holding nothing back.
Almost always appears with verbs like fight, defend, or struggle.
Engaging in physical conflict
- battleArmed military engagement
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- combatArmed hostile engagement
- warfareArmed conflict between groups
brawl · clash · skirmish · confrontation · scuffle · scrapping · grappling · tussle
Violently intense or aggressive
- relentlessContinuing without pause
- desperateDriven by urgent need
- tenaciousStubbornly determined to continue
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
dogged · stubborn · resolute · unwavering · persistent · ferocious · intense · unrelenting
One who competes against
- contestOrganized competitive event
- vyingCompeting eagerly for something
- contendingStriving in rivalry
- competingContending for victory
cutthroat · aggressive · ambitious · ruthless · driven · striving · battling · challenging
Keeping from harm
- guardingActively protecting something
- resistingActively opposing pressure
- holdingMaintaining physical possession
- preservingProtecting from deterioration
safeguarding · shielding · fortifying · clinging · clutching · gripping · refusing · standing ground
fighting
Engaging in physical conflict
- battleArmed military engagement
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- combatArmed hostile engagement
warfare · brawl · clash · skirmish · confrontation · scuffle · scrapping · grappling · tussle · melee
fierce
Violently intense or aggressive
- relentlessContinuing without pause
- desperateDriven by urgent need
- tenaciousStubbornly determined to continue
unyielding · dogged · stubborn · resolute · unwavering · persistent · ferocious · intense · unrelenting · gritty
rival
One who competes against
- contestOrganized competitive event
- vyingCompeting eagerly for something
- contendingStriving in rivalry
competing · cutthroat · aggressive · ambitious · ruthless · driven · striving · battling · challenging · pursuing
protecting
Keeping from harm
- guardingActively protecting something
- resistingActively opposing pressure
- holdingMaintaining physical possession
preserving · safeguarding · shielding · fortifying · clinging · clutching · gripping · refusing · standing ground · digging in
tooth-and-nailhalfheartedly
Without real interest
half-heartedly · feebly · weakly · tepidly · listlessly
tooth-and-nailmeekly
In docile manner
submissively · passively · compliantly · docilely · acquiescently
tooth, nail, toothed, toothy, toothless, toothlike, nails, nailed, nailing