barroom brawl

Noun

barroom brawl (plural barroom brawls)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: A brawl in a barroom.
   • His name was Charlie Upton, from Liverpool. And he had a penchant for whiskey and barroom brawls.2017, Sam Shepard, Spy of the First Person, →ISBN, page 8
2. A conflict with no rules.
   • The naval battle which cost the Japanese 23 ships off Guadalcanal November 13 was a gigantic "barroom brawl with all lights out and every body swinging," Captain Edward Parker related today.1942 December 19, “Guadalcanal's Great Naval Battle Barroom Brawl, Says Commander”, in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
   • "We don't want to get involved in a barroom brawl with the United States" while there is still hope for revoking Reagan's decision, the official said.1987 March 28, “Reagan Imposes 100% Tariffs on Japan Goods Retaliatory Sanctions...”, in Los Angeles Times
3. An inferior boxing match.