rough-and-tumble adj : characterized by disorderly action and disregard for rules; "a rough-and-tumble fight"; "rough-and-tumble politics"; "undisguised bare-knuckle capitalism" [syn: {bare-knuckle}, {bare-knuckled}] n : disorderly fighting [syn: {hassle}, {scuffle}, {tussle}, {dogfingt}]