1 C1 idiomatic slang
To engage in an intense, all-out fight, argument, or competition with someone.
"Rather than negotiate, the two rival companies decided to nuke it out in court."
nuke it out
C1 slang intransitive
To fight, argue, or compete with full intensity, with the implication of mutually destructive force.
In plain English
To have a really big, explosive fight or argument with someone.
What does "nuke it out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic slang
(Gaming/internet) To compete aggressively in a game or online debate until one side is completely defeated.
"The two top-ranked players are going to nuke it out in the tournament finals tonight."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To use nuclear weapons to fight something out — used metaphorically for intense conflict.
Actually means
To have a really big, explosive fight or argument with someone.
Usage tip
Very informal and uncommon. Derived from 'nuke' (nuclear bomb) as a hyperbolic intensifier. More common in online gaming or internet culture contexts than in standard speech.
Words that pair with "nuke it out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
rivals opponents each other enemies competitors
How to conjugate "nuke it out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
nuke it out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
nukes it out
he/she/it
Past simple
nuked it out
yesterday
Past participle
nuked it out
have + pp
-ing form
nuking it out
continuous
Hear "nuke it out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "nuke it out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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