take up the cudgels

Related to take up the cudgels: toe the line

take up (the) cudgels against (someone or something)

To prepare for or engage in a conflict against someone or something. May or may not refer to literally arming oneself. People from across the country are taking up the cudgels against the dictatorship. We have to be willing to take up the cudgels if we ever want to loosen the grip of these greedy corporations.
See also: cudgel, take, up

take up the cudgel(s)

To defend, show strong support for, or argue on behalf of someone or something. Often followed by "for" or "on behalf of." People from across the country are taking up cudgels on behalf of the young man being held by police. He's got plenty of money to hire a proper legal team. I don't think he needs the likes of us taking up the cudgel.
See also: take, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

take up the cudgels

or

take up the cudgel

If you take up the cudgels for someone or take up the cudgel for them, you speak or fight in support of them. The trade unions took up the cudgels for the 367 staff who were made redundant. We are hoping that the government will take up the cudgel on our behalf. Note: A cudgel was a short, thick stick that was used as a weapon in the past.
See also: cudgel, take, up
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

take up the cudgels

start to support someone or something strongly.
See also: cudgel, take, up
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

take up the cudgels

To join in a dispute, especially in defense of a participant.
See also: cudgel, take, up
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • take up (the) cudgels against (someone or something)
  • may as well
  • may/might as well
  • vel
  • vel non
  • come what may
  • one man's meat is another man's poison
  • sell in May
  • sell in May and go away
  • sell in May and stay away
References in periodicals archive
But perhaps we are still too keen to take up the cudgels for our friends and not keen enough to take soundings of Mr and Mrs Everyman.
LETTER: Not fair to IDS
Are there no Welsh AMs or MPs who will take up the cudgels to get this cross, and the many other artefacts stolen from us, back.
Lost treasure; LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
lJockeys are poised to take up the cudgels with the Jockey Club, which wants to raise the penalty for a first whip offence of the season from two days to four.
All Our Yesterdays:
Alex Salmond, leader of the Scottish Nationalists, is the latest punter to take up the cudgels.
Racing: SMARTING OVER STARTING PRICES
Arthur Titherington chairman of the Japanese Labour Camp Survivors Association, said: ``If there is any justice in this world we will be told that the UK government has agreed to take up the cudgels on our behalf.''
Ex-POWs' new call for justice
My point is not to condemn the use of euphemism and dysphemism, to decry schadenfreude, or to take up the cudgels with Rush Limbaugh concerning political correctness.
Euphemism, dysphemism, and the shaping of tax policy