Roughhouse

Roughhouse, as a verb, describes boisterous, often playful, and sometimes aggressive physical play. It typically involves wrestling, jostling, mock fighting, and horseplay, often between friends, family, or peers. The intent is usually to have fun, but it can occasionally result in minor injuries or bruised egos. As a noun, it refers to the act or instance of engaging in such boisterous play. The key elements of a roughhouse include physical contact, energy, and a lack of formal rules, allowing for spontaneity and energetic interaction. Context often dictates the level of intensity; a friendly roughhouse with siblings differs from a more heated one with rivals.

Roughhouse meaning with examples

• The kids, filled with pent-up energy after being cooped up inside, started to roughhouse on the living room floor, tumbling over each other in a flurry of laughter. Mom asked for a less chaotic scene.
• During the camping trip, the boys decided to roughhouse by the creek, splashing water on each other. They ended up with wet clothes and a few bumps, but they had a blast. Dad was quite pleased with them.
• After winning the game, the team allowed themselves to roughhouse, piling on each other in a celebration of victory. The coach, initially concerned, joined in the merrymaking.
• The two brothers would roughhouse in the backyard on weekends, testing each other’s strength, always making sure to stop before any serious injuries occurred.
• The dog would start to roughhouse by playfully nipping at the kids' hands.