No Holds Barred

Used as an idiom since around 1940.

Meaning of No Holds Barred Idiom

No holds barred means a situation without any restrictions, where anything is permitted. Anything goes.

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Usage

No holds barred is often mispronounced as no holes barred.

Examples Of Use

“The press conference started out normally but soon devolved into a no holds barred shouting match.”

“I’ll never go out shopping on Christmas Eve again, it’s a no holds barred mob scene!”

Origin

This idiom comes from the sport of wrestling. Usually, wrestling is regulated and certain holds or moves are against the rules or barred. However, sometimes bouts do not have such restrictions and are called no holds barred matches. These types of bouts can be very dangerous. As an idiom, the expression alludes to this situation where there are no restrictions or rules. It has been used figuratively since at least 1940.

More Idioms Starting with N

• Not Think Twice
• Night Owl
• No Spring Chicken
• Not For All the Tea in China
• Not My Cup of Tea

More Bar Idioms

• Behind Bars
• Katie Bar the Door
• Bar None

More Hold Idioms

• Leave Holding the Bag
• Hold Your Horses
• Hold Water
• Hold All the Cards
• Hold All The Aces

More ‘No’ Idioms

• No Spring Chicken
• There’s No Accounting for Tastes
• No Sweat (Thank You Response)
• No Problem (Thank You Response)
• No Great Shakes

More Sport Related Idioms

• On the Ropes
• Whole New Ball Game, a
• Throw In the Towel
• A Shoo-in
• Run Interference