roughhouse
[
n.
ruhf
-hous;
v.
ruhf
-hous, -houz]
/
n.
ˈrʌfˌhaʊs;
v.
ˈrʌfˌhaʊs, -ˌhaʊz/
noun
,
plural
roughhouses
[
ruhf
-hou-ziz]
/ˈrʌfˌhaʊ zɪz/
(
Show IPA
)
1.
rough
, disorderly playing, especially indoors.
verb (used without object)
,
roughhoused
[
ruhf
-houst, -houzd]
/ˈrʌfˌhaʊst, -ˌhaʊzd/
(
Show IPA
),
roughhousing
[
ruhf
-hou-sing, -zing]
/ˈrʌfˌhaʊ sɪŋ, -zɪŋ/
(
Show IPA
)
2.
to engage in
rough
, disorderly play.
verb (used with object)
,
roughhoused
[
ruhf
-houst, -houzd]
/ˈrʌfˌhaʊst, -ˌhaʊzd/
(
Show IPA
),
roughhousing
[
ruhf
-hou-sing, -zing]
/ˈrʌfˌhaʊ sɪŋ, -zɪŋ/
(
Show IPA
)
3.
to handle roughly but with playful intent:
to roughhouse the cat.
Origin
1885-90,
Americanism;
rough
+
house
Examples from the web for
roughhouse
When they go behind the team tends to resort to
roughhouse
tactics.
Never
roughhouse
with the pup, the way its littermates did, and it will cut down on how the pup views you as well.
British Dictionary definitions for
roughhouse
roughhouse
/
ˈrʌfˌhaʊs
/
noun
1.
rough, disorderly, or noisy behaviour
verb
2.
to treat (someone) in a boisterous or rough way
Slang definitions & phrases for
roughhouse
roughhouse
adjective
: rough-house work for the political boss
noun
Boisterous and rowdy behavior; more or less harmless scuffling
(1897+)
Physical violence; mayhem
(1887+)
verb
: The kids roughhoused half the night
(1900+)
: Gun-toting bodyguards roughhoused Swedish citizens
(1902+)