dogfight
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A violent fight between dogs: A brutal physical struggle between dogs, sometimes organized illegally for entertainment or gambling.
- An aerial engagement between fighter planes: A close-quarters combat between military aircraft in the sky.
- Disorderly fighting: A chaotic, rough fight or scuffle involving multiple people.
- A fiercely disputed contest: Any intense, aggressive competition or struggle, often involving personal animosity.
Verb:
- Engage in an aerial battle with another fighter plane: To fight against another aircraft in close combat in the air.
- Arrange for an illegal dogfight: To organize a fight between dogs, typically for illegal betting or entertainment.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- The police raided the barn where an illegal dogfight was taking place.
- The World War II pilot described the frantic dogfight over the English Channel.
- The protest descended into a chaotic dogfight between demonstrators and counter-protesters.
- The primary election turned into a bitter political dogfight.
Verb:
- The enemy fighters began to dogfight with our squadron.
- He was arrested for dogfighting, a cruel and illegal activity.
Advanced Usage
"to be in a dogfight": To be involved in a fierce, ongoing struggle or competition.
- The two companies are in a dogfight for market dominance.
"a real dogfight": Emphasizes the intensity and difficulty of a contest.
- It was a real dogfight for the final playoff spot.
Variants and Related Words
- Dogfighting (noun): The activity or practice of engaging in aerial combat or organizing illegal fights between dogs.
- Dogfighting is a serious crime in many countries.
Synonyms
- Noun (for a fight): Brawl, scrap, melee, fracas.
- Noun (for a contest): Battle, struggle, clash, rivalry.
- Verb (for aerial combat): Engage, duel, battle.
Related Phrasal Verbs
(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs.)
Related Idioms
- "It's a dogfight": Used to describe a situation that is an intensely competitive and no-holds-barred struggle.
- With three top candidates, the election is going to be a dogfight.
Noun
- a violent fight between dogs (sometimes organized illegally for entertainment and gambling)
- an aerial engagement between fighter planes
- disorderly fighting
- a fiercely disputed contest
- their rancor dated from a political dogfight between them
- a real dogfight for third place
- a prolonged dogfight over their rival bids for the contract
Verb
- engage in an aerial battle with another fighter plane
- arrange for an illegal dogfight