fight tooth and nail
Meaning
To fight or resist with extreme determination, using every effort and refusing to give up.
Origin
From the literal image of fighting using teeth and fingernails/claws as last-resort weapons; “tooth and nail” is attested from early modern English and came to mean “with maximum ferocity.”
Notes
Conveys intense, stubborn determination and an unwillingness to compromise. Used for disputes, negotiations, or competitions. Tone is forceful/combative; in formal contexts, consider a milder phrasing.
Examples
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She fought tooth and nail to keep her job.
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They fought tooth and nail against the proposed budget cuts.
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We’ll fight tooth and nail for every vote.
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He fought tooth and nail to win custody of his daughter.
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The team fought tooth and nail, but still lost in overtime.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Typically: “fight tooth and nail (for/against/to + verb).” The core idiom is “tooth and nail,” an adverbial phrase; it also appears with other verbs (e.g., “defend tooth and nail”). Word order is fixed.
Synonyms
- fight fiercely
- fight hard
- battle it out
- put up a fight
- resist stubbornly
- defend tooth and nail
Antonyms
- give up
- surrender
- yield
- back down
- concede