rough-and-tumble
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.37 in modern English
23
Scrabble Score
14
Letters
5
Syllables
13
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Active, vigorous and rough, with the possibility of harm.
adj
noun
An environment of rough activity.
noun
A person who characteristically engages in such activity.
Example Sentences
- "An assistant about the theatre grappled him, and they were soon upon the floor engaged in a regular rough-and-tumble fight."
- "[To Sonny] When you look in a mirror, you see this rough-and-tumble old-school cowboy. Doesn't take orders, goes his own way, huh? A lone wolf. Well, I have news for you: Formula One is a team sport. It always was."
- "She found fame and success in the rough-and-tumble garment district."
- ""You played Rugger for Ireland, did you not? You don't mind a possible rough-and-tumble, do you?" Malone grinned over the receiver."
- "She liked ragging; but ragging — and nothing more — these rough-and-tumbles remained"
- "As for rough-and-tumbles, the Quaker saw no hope of suppressing them. Few nights passed without such fights […]"
Etymology
Usage
Inflected Forms
more rough-and-tumble (comparative)
most rough-and-tumble (superlative)
rough and tumble (alternative)
rough-and-tumbles (plural)
rough-and-tumbles (present, singular)
rough-and-tumbling (participle, present)
rough-and-tumbled (participle, past)
rough-and-tumbled (past)