battle royal

a battle royal

1. A fight in which more than two participants are involved and the last person to survive is declared the winner. The men were eager to see who would be declared the wrestling champion at the end of the battle royal.
2. A heated argument. Things got pretty heated between the union and the school board at the meeting last night. It was quite the battle royal!
See also: battle, royal
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

battle royal

a fiercely contested fight or dispute.
1997 Fred Chappell Farewell, I'm Bound to Leave You The boys told no one about the fight…it was a battle royal and went on from two o'clock in the afternoon until sundown.
See also: battle, royal
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

battle royal

A fierce battle or free-for-all. In the seventeenth century the term signified a cockfight in which more than two birds were engaged. They would fight until there was only one survivor. By the eighteenth century the expression was a metaphor for any general fight, including a battle of wits.
See also: battle, royal
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • a battle royal
  • an eager beaver
  • eager
  • eager beaver
  • eager-beaver
  • be spoiling for (something)
  • be spoiling for a fight, argument, etc.
  • gauntlet
  • have itchy fingers
  • be the first (person) to (do something)
References in periodicals archive
Ali, 33, from Illinois, took part in the Battle Royal as part of the WrestleMania pre-show along with 29 other superstars.
Fans concerned as WWE superstar Ali smashes FACE on table during WrestleMania 35; Ali was eliminated from the Andre the Giant memorial battle royal in brutal fashion and WWE fans were left concerned
It was battle royal witnessed in the third and decisive set, where both the players managed to hold onto their respective serves to make it 6-6.
Eight matches held in Benazir Bhutto Tennis
Let's take a look at the three wrestlers that have the best odds to win WWE's 2018 Greatest Battle Royal.
Bryan, Strowman Are Greatest Royal Rumble Favorites
The post Lukyanuk leads Cyprus Rally in battle royal appeared first on Cyprus Mail .
Lukyanuk leads Cyprus Rally in battle royal
More than half of Colorado's voters cast ballots, likely due to the battle royal over a U.S.
7 Turnout low-with exceptions
Abu Dhabi: Prepare for aACAya battle royal' of Alain Prost-Ayrton Senna proportions when Lewis Hamilton faces Nico Rosberg in Sunday's spine-tingling title finale at the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
aACAyLewis-Nico contest up there with Prost-Senna'
TEESSIDE'S reigning X Factor champion James Arthur is locked in a battle royal to secure his second number one single.
James' push for second number one
Named Battle Royal, there will be action-packed displays culminating with two gala concerts tomorrow and Sunday night.
Let battle commence... family day out The unlikely mix of Roundheads and rock music will end with a right royal battle this weekend at Cardiff Castle, as CATHY OWEN discovers
It was a battle royal but McKray just had the edge.
Tommy guns down Snied
TOM WOOD is geared up for another Twickenham battle royal as England go from being the hunters to the hunted in Saturday's Calcutta Cup showdown with Scotland.
Wood is set to be hunted by Scots
In an incident-filled and scrappy boys-18 semi-finals, Yousif Qaed beat Ayman Jaffar in another three-set battle royal - 4-6, 6-4, 10-4.
Tarek pips Yusuf for under-16 title
durance vile mother superior parts unknown fee simple heir apparent bend sinister court martial heir presumptive letter s patent sergeant major knight errant prince charming lady fair attorney general battle royal It is not difficult to discover words ending in -LY which are adjectives as well as adverbs.
Deferential adjectives and persistent adjectives
BEDDAU .................................16 MOUNTAIN ASH ................15 IT was a battle royal at Mount Pleasant Park as just a single point separated Beddau and Mountain Ash at the final whistle.
Pimlow has a point to prove
Chris Routledge, managing Director at car auction house COYS, in Westminster, said: There was a battle royal for this car, which went for some pounds 150,000 over its estimate."
Beatle's Aston fetches pounds 350,000
Chris Routledge, managing director of Coys, said: "There was a battle royal for this car which went for some pounds 50,000 over its estimate."
Harrison's Aston Martin clocks up pounds 310K