no holds barred

/nˈəʊ hˈəʊldz bˈɑːd/

/nˈoʊ hˈoʊldz bˈɑːɹd/

[phrase]

no holds barred

[PHRASE]

in a way that is not controlled by any rules or limitations

Examples

1. So the publishing of this phone call was just another salvo in what had become, again in Putin's eyes, a kind of dirty war of information in which there were no holds barred in the way that Washington and Moscow would try and compete for geopolitical influence in Ukraine, using information in the way that information can be used to stir up crowds and enflame political passions in the street.

2. There were those who urged Washington to prolong the war, who urged him to engage in a guerilla conflict, a type of down and dirty vicious no holds barred conflict that would have absolutely no boundaries to really punish the British and get them to leave.

3. It was a sort of no holds barred show.

4. Kicking things off is the Nvidia Shield and I have to give Nvidia props here, they wanted to sponsor a no holds barred comparison which is awesome.