Go down swinging/fighting In english explanation

The meaning, explanation, definition and origin of the idiom/phrase "go down swinging/fighting", English Idiom Dictionary ( also found in Vietnamese )

Mia Le

2020-08-18 09:08

Meaning of Go down swinging/fighting

Go down swinging/fighting informal verb phrase

To continue to fight or to make a strong, determined effort regardless of the high possibility of loss or failure

The BK team beat us, but we went down fighting.

Even though the competitor is going to win the Spelling Bee contest, John is going down swinging.

Other phrases about:

to throw in the towel

To quit; to give up, stop doing something because you know that you cannot succeed; admit defeat

Fall Flat

a joke, idea, or suggestion falls flat, meaning that it does not achieve the intended effect.

Hit the Skids

To begin to decline or deteriorate decline; to get worse very quickly

It takes two to make a quarrel

When an argument or a fight occurs, both parties involved are responsible for it.

a fight to the finish

A fight, match or contest between two groups or people which may only end with the complete defeat of one side.

Grammar and Usage of Go down swinging/fighting

Verb Forms

goes down swinging/fighting
went down swinging/fighting
going down swinging/fighting
gone down swinging/fighting

The phrase starts with a "verb" , so we need to be careful about subject verb agreement.

Origin of Go down swinging/fighting

In a boxing match, the loser would keep trying to land a blow on his opponent, even when he couldn't see any more, so when he finally collapsed, he was lauded as "going down swinging."

The Origin Cited: Quora - Where did the expression "go down swinging" first originate?