duel
A planned fight between two people, usually using weapons, done with special rules to defend their honor.
A formal fight between two people, usually with weapons and agreed rules, traditionally arranged to settle a point of honor.
A strong, close fight or competition between two people or teams, like a serious battle.
A very intense and direct competition or struggle between two people or groups, often described as if it were a formal fight.
To take part in a planned fight with one other person, usually with weapons, to defend your honor.
To fight a formal, arranged combat with one opponent, traditionally using weapons and following agreed rules, often to defend honor.
To fight or compete very strongly against one other person or team, like in a serious battle.
To compete directly and intensely with one opponent, especially over a period of time, in a way that is compared to a formal fight.
- Base: duel
- Plural: duels
- Base: duel
- 3rd Person Singular: duels
- Present Participle: dueling, duelling
- Past: dueled, duelled
- Past Participle: duelled
- Irregular past participle: duelled Verb
a duel of wits
1intense contest of intelligence
A situation where two people try to be smarter or quicker than each other, often with clever words or ideas.
- The interview turned into a duel of wits between the politician and the journalist.
- The two lawyers engaged in a duel of wits in front of the jury.
challenge someone to a duel
1formally invite to fight a duel
To tell a person that you want to fight a formal one-on-one battle with them, usually to defend your honor.
- He was so angry that he threatened to challenge his critic to a duel.
- In old novels, characters often challenge someone to a duel after an insult.
duel for the title
1compete intensely for a title
To fight or compete very strongly against one other person or team to become the champion.
- Two drivers will duel for the title in the final race.
- The teams are dueling for the title after a long season.
duel it out
1settle by intense two-way fight
To fight or compete strongly with one other person or team until there is a clear winner.
- The two finalists will duel it out for the championship tomorrow night.
- Let the lawyers duel it out in court; we should stay out of it.
duel to the death
1duel where one must die
A fight or competition where the loser is expected to die or be completely destroyed, sometimes used figuratively.
- The warriors agreed to a duel to the death to settle the conflict.
- In the movie, two robots engage in a duel to the death in the arena.
fight a duel
1take part in a formal duel
To take part in a planned fight with one other person, usually with weapons and special rules.
- He agreed to fight a duel after his honor was questioned.
- In the story, the two friends fight a duel over a misunderstanding.