Definition

Verb: - To engage in or treat someone or something in a rough, noisy, or boisterous manner, often involving physical play or rowdy behavior.

Usage

The verb "rough-house" describes the act of playing or behaving in a very loud, energetic, and physically rough way. It is often used to describe children, animals, or adults engaging in playful but disorderly physical activity. It can also mean to handle or treat someone with excessive physical force in a playful or aggressive context.

Examples

• The children were rough-housing in the living room and accidentally knocked over a lamp.
• The puppies love to rough-house with each other in the yard.
• He told the boys to stop rough-housing before someone got hurt.
• The older siblings would often rough-house their little brother, but they never meant any harm.

Advanced Usage

• "to rough-house around": To engage in rough, boisterous play in a general, non-specific area or manner.
  • The kids were just rough-housing around after school.

Variants and Related Words

• Roughhousing (noun): The activity or instance of engaging in rough, boisterous play.
  • The roughhousing got a bit out of hand.

Synonyms

• Horse around
• Wrestle
• Romp
• Scuffle (playfully)

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Rough-house" itself functions as a phrasal verb. Specific combinations like "rough up" are distinct.) - Rough up: To beat or treat someone with physical violence, more aggressive than "rough-house." - The thugs threatened to rough him up. (This is different from playful "rough-housing.")

Related Idioms

• "To get into a rough-house": To become involved in a situation involving rough, disorderly play or fighting.
  • The party turned into a real rough-house after midnight.

Verb

1. treat in a rough or boisterous manner