hammer and tongs

Definition of hammer and tongs

: with great force, vigor, or violence went at it hammer and tongs

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Examples of hammer and tongs in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Two teams who seem destined to slug it out in the lower reaches of the table this season going hammer and tongs at each other never makes for a good watch. — SI.com, "Fantasy Premier League: The 10 Players Who Scooped Man of the Match in Gameweek 5," 18 Sep. 2019 The Reds went hammer and tongs in their efforts to find a second, though their hosts were able to hold off the onslaught until the final 10 minutes of the clash. — SI.com, "Southampton vs Liverpool Preview: Where to Watch, Live Stream, Buy Tickets & Kick Off Time," 15 Aug. 2019 With two moderate Pyrenean climbs, Thursday’s Stage 12 from Toulouse, where cassoulet and rugby are both big, wasn’t tough enough for Thomas and his rivals to go at each other hammer and tongs. — Washington Post, "Taste of the Tour: Piping-hot bean stew in summer? Bien sûr!," 18 July 2019 The way to stand out from the others is to go hammer and tongs for the opponents’ jugulars, or to try to sound more extreme than the others. — Jim Jones, idahostatesman, "This wretched election shows why the closed GOP primary is bad for Idaho voters," 18 May 2018 The way to stand out from the others is to go hammer and tongs for the opponents’ jugulars, or to try to sound more extreme than the others. — Jim Jones, idahostatesman, "This wretched election shows why the closed GOP primary is bad for Idaho voters," 18 May 2018 The way to stand out from the others is to go hammer and tongs for the opponents’ jugulars, or to try to sound more extreme than the others. — Jim Jones, idahostatesman, "This wretched election shows why the closed GOP primary is bad for Idaho voters," 18 May 2018 The way to stand out from the others is to go hammer and tongs for the opponents’ jugulars, or to try to sound more extreme than the others. — Jim Jones, idahostatesman, "This wretched election shows why the closed GOP primary is bad for Idaho voters," 18 May 2018 The way to stand out from the others is to go hammer and tongs for the opponents’ jugulars, or to try to sound more extreme than the others. — Jim Jones, idahostatesman, "This wretched election shows why the closed GOP primary is bad for Idaho voters," 18 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hammer and tongs.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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hammer and tongs

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Cite this Entry

“Hammer and tongs.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hammer%20and%20tongs. Accessed 20 Feb. 2020.

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