go to the mat

Idioms  

1. Fight until one side or another is victorious, as in The governor said he'd go to the mat for this bill. This term comes from wrestling and evokes the holding of an opponent when both contestants are down on the mat, the padded floor-covering used in matches. It has been used figuratively since about 1900.

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Example Sentences

“A lot of lawmakers were loosely opposed to it, but not really willing to go to the mat one way or the other. And they did it over the weekend when fewer people were paying attention.”

From Slate

But it appears it’s only this one retired congressman who is willing to go to the mat publicly at this point.

From Seattle Times

McGuire gave labor unions credit on Monday, saying that “in California, we go to the mat for the rights of workers.”

From Los Angeles Times

Were there ever things that you had to really go to the mat to fight for or that actually didn't make it?

From Salon

“It’s hard to imagine this new, generated so-called entitlement is something they’d go to the mat for. But maybe it’s taken on its own kind of standing” in Democratic party politics, Gen. Spoehr said.

From Washington Times