Phrase guide

no holds barred

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Topics: government, hobbies, lifestyle, martial-arts, military, politics, sports, war, wrestling

Examples

  • a no holds barred match

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Having absolutely no limits or restrictions as far as the levels and nature of one's hostilities and offense; taking to an especially ruthless or vicious manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, not-comparable

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: unrestrained, unrestricted, unreserved, unconstrained, cutthroat
  • a no holds barred debating style that quickly transformed into cheap shots and bickering

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unrestrained, unrestricted, unreserved, unconstrained, cutthroat

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: ilman kiellettyjä otteita — in wrestling: without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do
  • Finnish: ei kiellettyjä otteita — in wrestling: without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do
  • Polish: bez ograniczeń — in wrestling: without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do
  • Portuguese: luta livre — in wrestling: without restrictions on holds or what opponents may do
  • Finnish: kaikki sallittu — idiomatic: having absolutely no reserve or restrictions in lengths; in an especially ruthless or vicious manner
  • Italian: senza esclusione di colpi — idiomatic: having absolutely no reserve or restrictions in lengths; in an especially ruthless or vicious manner
  • Polish: wszystkie chwyty dozwolone — idiomatic: having absolutely no reserve or restrictions in lengths; in an especially ruthless or vicious manner