take up the cudgels
The phrase "take up the cudgels" originates from the idea of picking up a heavy club to defend or support a cause or person.
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Definition
C1General
(idiomatic)To start defending or supporting someone or something strongly.
Example
- She took up the cudgels for her colleague during the meeting.
- He was quick to take up the cudgels when his friend was criticized.
C1Debate
(idiomatic)To engage in a vigorous argument in favor of a cause or person.
Example
- During the debate, he took up the cudgels for the environmental policy.
- They took up the cudgels against the new regulations.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "take up the cudgels":
take upput up one's dukesput up a fighttake up withfight upup in armstaking up the mantleroll up one's sleevesgo to batstand up tofight backpick up the slackcome to blowsbear upcall to arms