to take up the cudgel
- idiom
- Archaic
:
defender
- Following the viral video, the community took up the cudgel against bullying in schools.
Examples
-
In her speech, the mayor took up the cudgel for equal pay in the workplace.
-
The National Art Education Association and other organizations took up the cudgel against artists usurping art teachers' roles, not to mention their jobs.
Academic text (1999) -
Barkan died in 1971, but his intellectual heir apparent, Elliot Eisner at Stanford University, took up the cudgel and became the same sort of aggressive spokesman for professional excellence that Barkan had been throughout his lifetime.
Academic text (1996) -
After the controversial decision, many activists took up the cudgel to defend the rights of the marginalized.
Synonyms
691
2.8
To speak up to support a person or idea when others criticize it
256
2.7
Defend or support someone who is treated unfairly
69
3.9
Publicly support a cause, policy, or idea
59
4.3
To support someone when others criticize or attack them
39
3.1
To support one side in an argument
23
4.6
Publicly say you strongly agree or disagree with something
22
7.2
To take a risk by saying or doing something that may get you in trouble
22
3.7
To resist a person or rule that treats people unfairly
12
5.4
Support someone who is in trouble
11
3.0
Support someone in an argument when others disagree
3
6.3
To publicly show support, often when doing so is risky
3
6.6
To support a person or idea by using your influence
2
5.5
To speak or act strongly to support a cause
1
3.9
Support and defend other people who share a cause
1
3.7
Speak or act to support fairness when it is threatened
1
6.3
Speak strongly in public to support a person, idea, or cause
To support someone in an argument
Antonyms
How Strongly
64
4.2
∞
1.0
- Archaic
256
2.7
∞
1.0
932
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase literally combines 'take up' (pick up/assume) with 'cudgel' (a stout stick used as a weapon), so a learner who knows the constituents can infer the image of picking up a weapon to fight on someone’s behalf. Because the MWE is a metaphorical extension from that literal image (and somewhat archaic/idiomatic in usage), the connection is partly clear but not fully predictable without exposure.
Etymology
Take up the cudgel comes from the picture of someone picking up a cudgel, a short heavy stick used to fight, and stepping forward to defend another. So, to 'take up the cudgel' today means 'to begin to defend or support' a person, cause, or idea.