1. Home
2. Idioms
3. go to the mat

go to the mat

---

---

go to the mat (for somebody/something)

to support someone or something very strongly When he believes in a project, he's willing to go to the mat for it.

See also: mat

go to the mat

Fight until one side or another is victorious, as in The governor said he'd go to the mat for this bill. This term comes from wrestling and evokes the holding of an opponent when both contestants are down on the mat, the padded floor-covering used in matches. It has been used figuratively since about 1900.

See also: mat