Pleb chatted freely about it in fierce set-to (7,6)

I believe the answer is:

pitched battle

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'fierce set-to' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'pleb chatted freely about it' is the wordplay.
'freely' indicates an anagram.
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'pleb'+'chatted'='plebchatted'
'plebchatted' anagrammed gives 'pchedbattle'.
'pchedbattle' placed around 'it' is 'PITCHED BATTLE'.

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pitched battle that I've seen before include "Furious combat" , "Culloden (1746), for example" , "Prearranged skirmish" , "Violent confrontation" , "Prearranged military engagement" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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