free-for-all

ˌfree-for-ˈall noun [singular] informal

1 a situation in which there is total freedom and anything can happen – used to show disapproval 自由放任〔含贬义〕

the free-for-all of sexual activity in the 1970s

20世纪70年代的性放纵

2 FIGHTa noisy quarrel or fight involving a lot of people 吵闹；混战

A controversial penalty decision sparked a free-for-all at the end of the match.

终场前一个有争议的判罚引起了一场混战。

Examples from the Corpus

free-for-all• After Mathews was attacked, a free-for-all broke out in the audience.• The sheer number of cars creates a free-for-all on the city's potholed roads.• Yet, within a few years, the whole affair had degenerated into a foodies' free-for-all.• There is no room for social, political or historical questions, just an individual free-for-all in choosing which meanings to make.• As the Internet free-for-all grows, it is becoming impossible for businesses to ignore.• Yet legalisation should not be taken to mean a lawless free-for-all, with no restraint on the supply or use of drugs.• But there will certainly not be another overnight free-for-all.• Thus a theory of articulation does not mean that the musical field is a pluralistic free-for-all.• The free-for-all of war had to be curtailed.

From Longman Business Dictionary

free-for-allˌfree-for-ˈall noun [singular] disapprovingCOMMERCE

a disorganized situation in which there are no rules or controls and many people or companies are competing together

Many airlines were financially crippled by the free-for-all in the deregulated American market.

Chinese

Syllable

Corpus