Meaning
To enter into or prepare for a lengthy war, battle, or conflict; to adopt a combative or warlike position.
Examples
While Republicans have shown some flexibility over other contentious issues, it looks as though they’re ready to go to the mattresses over the issue of gun control.
We’ll go to the mattresses if that’s what it takes to defend ourselves!
Origin
Synonyms
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What does the idiom ‘go to the mattresses’ mean?
The idiom ‘go to the mattresses’ means “to deal with a difficult situation without being harmed or damaged”
How do you use ‘go to the mattresses’ in a sentence?
Example usage of idiom ‘go to the mattresses’: Newspapers have weathered the storm of online information by providing news online themselves.