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Gloves are off meaning

What does the saying 'Gloves are off' mean?

Idiom: Gloves are off

Meaning:

When the gloves are off, people start to argue or fight in a more serious way. ('The gloves come off' and 'take the gloves off' are also used. It comes from boxing, where fighters normally wear gloves so that they don't do too much damage to each other.)
Country: International English | Subject Area: Clothes | Usage Type: Both or All Words Used
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