Roughhouse - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Roughhouse means to engage in rowdy, physical play or fighting, often in a noisy or boisterous manner. It is typically used to describe children or animals playing roughly but without serious intent.
Definition:
Engage in rowdy, boisterous play or fighting, often rough but not seriously harmful.
Synonyms:
horseplay, romp, scuffle, wrestle
Part of Speech:
verb, noun
Antonyms:
calmness, gentleness
Common Collocations:
roughhouse play, roughhouse behavior, roughhouse games
Derivatives:
roughhouser, roughhousing
Usage Tips:
Use "roughhouse" to describe noisy physical play; avoid implying serious aggression or harm.
Common Phrases:
roughhouse around, let's roughhouse, stop roughhousing
Etymology:
Originated in late 19th-century America from "rough" + "house," implying unruly behavior indoors.
Examples:
- 1. The kids love to roughhouse in the backyard after school.
- 2. Stop roughhousing before someone gets hurt!
- 3. Their roughhouse games often end in laughter and minor bruises.
- 4. Dad warned them not to roughhouse near the fragile furniture.