go at (one) hammer and tongs

go at (one) hammer and tongs

To aggressively confront one. If the boss blames you for this printing mishap, he'll go at you hammer and tongs in no time. If this minor disagreement escalates into a heated argument, those two will go at each other hammer and tongs. Hey, don't go at me hammer and tongs! I had nothing to do with this prank!

See also: and, go, hammer, tongs

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

be/go at somebody/something ˌhammer and ˈtongs

(informal) do something, especially argue or fight, with a lot of energy and noise: The boss went at me hammer and tongs. I’ve never seen him so angry. ♢ The couple in the flat upstairs are always at it hammer and tongs.This idiom refers to the loud noise made by a blacksmith at work when he is making horseshoes. He uses a pair of tongs to hold the hot iron and a hammer to beat the iron into the shape of the shoe.

See also: and, go, hammer, somebody, something, tongs

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