go to the mat

== English == === Alternative forms === go to the mats === Etymology === A reference to wrestling. === Pronunciation === === Verb === go to the mat (third-person singular simple present goes to the mat, present participle going to the mat, simple past went to the mat, past participle gone to the mat) (chiefly US, idiomatic) To continue to struggle or fight until either victorious or defeated. ==== See also ==== go to the mattresses go to the wall === Further reading === “go to the mat”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. List of sports idioms on Wikipedia.Wikipedia