PhrasesHub

No holds barred

    Definitions

      • no restrictions or limitations
        To indicate a situation where there are no rules or restrictions, allowing anything to happen without inhibitions

      • all-out effort
        To describe a situation where someone is putting all their effort and energy into something, holding nothing back

    Examples of No holds barred

    • In his exposé on corruption in the town council, the journalist vowed to expose every dirty secret, no holds barred.

      This means that the journalist will reveal all the information, no matter how damaging or incriminating, without any restrictions or reservations.

    • During the negotiations, our CEO demanded that all proposals be put on the table, no holds barred.

      This indicates that our CEO wanted all the options, both positive and negative, to be presented openly and without any limitations, in order to make an informed decision.

    • The athlete promised an explosive performance at the championship, no holds barred.

      This implies that the athlete will give everything he's got, without any strategy or tactics, to achieve a record-breaking performance.

    • The chef challenged the contestants in the reality show to a cookoff, no holds barred.

      This signifies that the chef requires the contestants to cook their best dish using all the ingredients and techniques available, without any restrictions or limitations.

    • In his latest speech, the politician adopted a no holds barred approach, calling out his opponents by name and accusing them of corruption.

      This idiom is used when referring to a situation where all tactics and strategies are being used without any restrictions or limitations. It means the speaker is being extremely direct, blunt, and unapologetic in their words or actions. In this case, the politician is not holding back and is being very forthright in his accusations against his political rivals.

    • The detective took a no holds barred approach in his search for the missing person, spending long nights at the scene and interrogating every possible witness.

      This usage of the idiom is reversed, since in this example, the detective is being very aggressive and thorough in his investigation, leaving no stone unturned. It implies that the detective is willing to use all means necessary to solve the case, no matter how unconventional or extreme.

    • The CEO announced that the company would be implementing a no holds barred cost-cutting strategy, firing staff and slashing expenses to boost profits.

      Here, the idiom is used in a financial context, to describe a situation where a business is taking drastic measures to cut costs and increase profitability, without any regard for the consequences or aftermath. It highlights the fact that the company is taking a very forceful and uncompromising stance on reducing costs, even if it means making difficult and unpopular decisions.

    • The athlete adopted a no holds barred training regimen, pushing himself to the limit in preparation for the upcoming championship.

      This usage of the idiom is used in a sports context, to describe a situation where an athlete is pushing themselves to the very limits of their physical and mental abilities, sparing no effort or resource in their training regime. It implies that the athlete is leaving nothing to chance, and is taking a very aggressive and uncompromising stance in their preparations for the championship.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "no holds barred" can be used to indicate a situation with no restrictions or limitations, or to describe an all-out effort where someone is putting all their energy into something without holding anything back.

    Origin of "No holds barred"

    The origin of the idiom "no holds barred" can be traced back to the world of wrestling. In this context, "holds" refers to wrestling techniques and maneuvers. When a match is declared "no holds barred," it means that the wrestlers are free to use any and all techniques without any restrictions. Over time, the idiom has been adopted into everyday language to describe situations where there are no rules or limitations.

    Another possible origin of the idiom comes from boxing, where "no holds barred" referred to a match without any restrictions on holding onto the opponent. This allowed for a more aggressive and unrestricted style of fighting. Regardless of its origin, the idiom has come to represent a situation with no restrictions or limitations, or an all-out effort with no holding back.