短兵相接

duǎnbīngxiāngjiē
  1. lit. short-weaponed soldiery fight one another (idiom); fierce hand-to-hand infantry combat
  2. to fight at close quarters

CEDICT

to fight hand to hand; to be in close combat

Wiktionary

以短小的刀、剑等武器交手搏斗。比喻面对面激烈的搏打、争斗。《宋史．卷四五二．忠义传七．刘惟辅传》：「黎明军进，短兵相接，杀伤大当。」也作「短兵接战」。

重編國語辭典

Entry Composition

1 短兵 duǎnbīng
  1. small arms (knives, swords, etc.)
  2. soldier holding such arms
2 相接 xiāngjiē
  1. to merge with
  2. interlinking
  3. to join with
  4. to interlock