take up the cudgels against (someone/something)

British & Australian

take up the cudgels for (someone/something) - to argue strongly in support of someone or something.

Environmental groups have taken up the cudgels against multinational companies.

• give someone the green light
• give someone the heave ho
• give someone the heebie-jeebies
• give someone their due
• give someone their head
• give someone their marching orders
• give someone their walking papers
• give someone the jitters
• give someone the kiss of life
• give someone the nod
• give someone the old heave ho
• give someone the once-over
• give someone the push
• give someone the right of first refusal
• give someone the right to first refusal
• give someone the rough side of tongue
• give someone the rough side of your tongue
• give someone the runaround
• give someone the sack
• give someone the shaft
• give someone the shits
• give someone the shivers
• give someone the slip
• give someone the time of day
• give someone the willies