on the stump
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Related to on the stump: stump up
on the stump
Campaigning in an effort to garner votes and political support. Primarily heard in US. While on the stump in West Virginia, the candidate made several confusing remarks about her position on immigration reform.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
on the stump
COMMON If a politician is on the stump, he or she is travelling to different places and speaking to voters as part of their election campaign. Tariq Ali, Tony Benn and others are on the stump all over the country, speaking to loyal audiences. Despite his falling popularity, the president braved it on the stump today on behalf of his fellow Republicans. Note: This expression comes from politicians using tree stumps as platforms when giving a speech in the open air.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
on the stump
going about the country making political speeches or canvassing. chiefly North AmericanIn rural America in the late 18th century, the stump of a felled tree was often used as an impromptu platform for someone making a speech.
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