What's the meaning of this sentence?

Question

"The gloves are off."   Thank you!

Lalonie1999 · Accepted Answer

i have no idea could you tell me

Clive · Answer

Hi,
It is a figurative way of saying that the conflict will no longer be polite and restrained.

Usually, handling things with gloves on suggest carefulness and politeness.

Clive

Lalonie1999 · Answer

oh thanks for letting me know

Perfect Stranger · Answer

I remember there is another phrase related to gloves... What was it... Ahh... Can't recall it now, but it was or is usually used when one knight wanted/wants to challenge another knight... is it to throw the glove at somebody ?

Jiangyueming · Answer

This is original sentence "The gloves are off. For years, the White House has danced around the sensitive topic of Chinese hacking into American computer systems that is believed to have compromised everything from electrical grids to the email accounts of researchers focusing on China’s human-rights record.

Read more: http://world.time.com/2013/03/12/hack-attack-china-and-the-u-s-trade-barbs-on-cyberwarfare/#ixzz2NNs7axTf"

Clive · Answer

The phrase is 'throw down the gauntlet'.

Gauntlet is an old-fashioned word for a glove.

One knight would challenge another by throwing down his gauntlet in front of him.

The expression is used figuratively today.
eg The protesters have thrown down the gauntlet to the government.

Clive

Clive · Answer

"The gloves are off. For years, the White House has danced around the sensitive topic of Chinese hacking

The White House is now going take very serious action to deal with these hackers.

Clive

Perfect Stranger · Answer

Thanks Clive. I remember the word gauntlet from RPG games.

Can I say: I felt as if I've been thrown down a gauntlet at/on ?

I think it's incorrect.

Clive · Answer

Not right.

Say
eg I felt like a gauntlet had been thrown down in front of me.
But it's an unusual thing to say
.
Clive

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