Idioms

go to the mattresses

go to the mattresses

To enter into or prepare for a lengthy war, battle, or conflict; to adopt a combative or warlike position. While the true origin is uncertain, the phrase was popularized in English by The Godfather novel and films, where it referred to warring mafia families housing their soldiers in small, secure apartments to await orders. While the political party has shown some flexibility over other contentious issues, it looks as though they're ready to go to the mattresses over this one. We'll go to the mattresses if that's what it takes to defend ourselves! Many members of the party have said that they'll go to the mattresses to get this healthcare bill passed.
See also: go, mattress, to
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive
He is the wartime consigliere and Johnson's Cabinet, filled with Brexit true-believers, is ready to go to the mattresses in a snap election - or even a second EU referendum, which Cummings once predicted would be required to secure Brexit.
Y'know, the kind who would go to the mattresses for the Sharifs.
After this implosion the jewellery trade will go to the mattresses and cower as the banking industry does its math and checks out its liabilities to other similar organisations who could be defaulters in the future, a whole tribe of Modis and Choksis in the making.
Even if you have the temerity to talk about Measure 11, you go to the mattresses and start World War III.
Should I start gathering munitions and other supplies just in case we have to go to the mattresses? Is it war, or are a few overly excitable people just trying to corner the market on fruitcake?
Clemenza said it best: It's time to go to the mattresses.
He is the wartime consigliere and Johnson's Cabinet, filled with Brexit true-believers, is ready to go to the mattresses in a snap election -- or even a second EU referendum, which Cummings once predicted would be required to secure Brexit.
But the idea that 'let's all go to the mattresses here and fight about this in the law courts'--we think that's unjust to everybody."
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