idiom 'No holds are barred'

[marenparn]

Have I got it correctly that 'no holds are barred' means that 'you are allowed to do literally anything and there are no rules or limitations', and showing a 'master-of-the-universe' attitude?

[Francois]

Yes.

[BobK]

Have I got it correctly that 'no holds are barred' means that 'you are allowed to do literally anything and there are no rules or limitations', and showing a 'master-of-the-universe' attitude?

'barred' in the sense of 'disallowed'; the original reference was to uncontrolled hand-to-hand fighting. I'm not sure where 'master-of-the-universe' comes in; it's a question of being permitted to do anything in order to gain an advantage (which might be regarded by some as 'unfair'), not of omnipotence.

b

[marenparn]

thanks

[BobK]

thanks

Pleasure.

Afterthought: "No holds barred" can also be used as an adjective: 'He challenged his rival to a no holds barred fight.'

b