drop the gloves

verb2

1. •
   (US, Canada) To fight.

   • Nobody used to care when players such as John Ferguson, Bobby Orr, Gordie Howe and Maurice Richard dropped the gloves, because they could play the game, too. — 2007
2. •
   (US, Canada) To remove a prior impediment to action; to prepare for or engage in a dispute.

   • But Bradley, who dropped the gloves on Gore in a combative debate Wednesday night and called the vice president chronically dishonest, ignored Sullivan's advice. — 2000