rough-and-tumble vs steer

rough-and-tumble

verb
  • Engage in rough-and-tumble activity 

adj
  • active, vigorous and rough, with the possibility of harm 

  • highly competitive 

noun
  • An environment of rough activity 

  • Rough activity; fighting or brawling; a fight. 

  • A person who characteristically engages in such activity 

steer

verb
  • To maneuver or manipulate a person or group into a place or course of action. 

  • To conduct oneself; to take or pursue a course of action. 

  • To be directed and governed; to take a direction, or course; to obey the helm. 

  • To direct a group of animals. 

  • To direct a conversation. 

  • To guide the course of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft etc. (by means of a device such as a rudder, paddle, or steering wheel). 

  • To castrate (a male calf). 

  • To direct or send an object into a specific place 

noun
  • A suggestion about a course of action. 

  • The castrated male of cattle, especially one raised for beef production. 

How often have the words rough-and-tumble and steer occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )