pitched battle, a
An intense conflict, as in Their disagreement turned into a pitched battle between the nurses and the physicians' assistants. This term, dating from about 1600, originally alluded to a military battle in which the array of forces and battleground are predetermined (as opposed to a hasty skirmish).
Words nearby pitched battle, a
pitch-dark,
pitch-faced,
pitchbend,
pitchblende,
pitched battle,
pitched battle, a,
pitcher,
pitcher plant,
pitcherful,
pitchfork,
pitching