hammer and tongs闹哄哄地
someone is going at something hammer and tongs指某人正以激烈的方式做某事。该词组适用于那些正在激烈争论的人。如:
The two sides in the row over the new road are really going at each other hammer and tongs.
双方为新马路的事吵得不可开交。
该词组暗指传统铁匠所做的工作,即他会用一对长把钳(tongs)把烧红的铁块从锻炉中夹出,用锤(hammer)使劲敲打,在震耳的噪声中捶打出铁制品。