Definition

1. 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.

2. 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

1. a violent fight between dogs (sometimes organized illegally for entertainment and gambling)
2. an aerial engagement between fighter planes
3. disorderly fighting
4. 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

1. engage in an aerial battle with another fighter plane
2. arrange for an illegal dogfight