hammer and tongs

• Audio (General Australian):

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hammer and tongs (not comparable)

1. (idiomatic) In a manner indicating seriousness of intent and capability of harm.

   When they had an argument they went at it hammer and tongs.

   • 1920 November 8, “Islanders and Staleys Battle To Scoreless Draw in Sensational Game”, in Quad City Times:

     Trafton was personally challenged, in the Davenport hotel Saturday evening, and a handful of these birds from Rock Island heckled and "razzed" him into bets that he would be forced to take time before the end of the first quarter. Trafton bet till his money was gone and went into the game yesterday hammer and tongs.

   • 1928, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, chapter XIV, in Lady Chatterley’s Lover, [Germany?]: Privately printed, →OCLC:

     She sort of let things go, didn't get me a proper dinner when I came home from work, and if I said anything, flew out at me. And I flew back, hammer and tongs.

• hot and heavy
• intensely
• no holds barred