to compete against someone or something.

The airlines are duking it out, offering better service and cheaper fares as a way of attracting passengers.

Usage notes: often used in newspaper writing to describe competition between political candidates:

Candidates are still duking it out in state primaries, with no one the clear winner yet.

Related vocabulary: fight it out, slug it out

Etymology: based on the slang meaning of duke (= to hit or fight someone with your hands)

• can't take your eyes off someone
• can't take your eyes off something
• can't tell arse from elbow
• can't tell arse from your elbow
• can't tell your arse from elbow
• can't tell your arse from your elbow
• can't think straight
• can't to save life
• can't to save your life
• cap it all
• cap off
• cap something off
• carbon copy
• cardboard city
• cards are stacked against
• cards are stacked against someone
• care a fig
• care a hoot
• care a toss
• care tuppence
• carried away
• carrot-and-stick
• carrot and stick
• carrot and stick approach
• carrot-top