From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishrough and tumbleˌrough and ˈtumble noun 1 [uncountable]LOUD/NOISY a situation in which people compete with each other, often in a cruel wayrough and tumble of the rough and tumble of public life2 [singular, uncountable]LOUD/NOISY noisy rough behaviour when playing or fighting, especially by children —rough-and-tumble adjective [only before noun] Most boys enjoy rough-and-tumble play.
Examples from the Corpus
rough and tumble• It could be their first experience of rough and tumble play.• One of those cowardly specimens who observably flinched in the football tackle or too noticeably avoided the sporadic playground rough and tumble.• This started a real rough and tumble, with people falling or being pushed to the ground amongst the debris.• She's only small and she's not used to such rough and tumble.• After a lifetime in politics he knows all about the rough and tumble of public life.• No constitution is ever safe above the rough and tumble of political life.• This would have to be remembered in the rough and tumble of debate.• In the rough and tumble of my street there was less luxuriance. 