slug it out
B2 informal intransitive
In simple words
To fight or compete hard against someone for a long time until one side wins
Literal meaning: To trade heavy punches until one boxer wins
Meanings
1 B2 informal
(Sport/Fighting) To engage in a hard and prolonged physical fight
"The two boxers slugged it out for twelve brutal rounds before a decision was reached."
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
(Figurative) To compete fiercely or argue at length until a winner or resolution is found
"The two candidates slugged it out in the final televised debate before election day."
Usage notes
A fixed idiom. Used for both physical fights (boxing) and figurative contests (legal battles, business competition, political rivalries). The phrase is always in this fixed form.
Commonly used with
rivals candidates teams lawyers boxers competitors
Forms
Base
slug it out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
slugs it out
he/she/it
Past simple
sluged it out
yesterday
Past participle
sluged it out
have + pp
-ing form
sluging it out
continuous
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