pass the pikes

• pass through the pikes

pass the pikes (third-person singular simple present passes the pikes, present participle passing the pikes, simple past and past participle passed the pikes)

1. (archaic) To endure a difficult or unpleasant ordeal.
   • 1662, Jacques Olivier, translated by Richard Banke, A Discourse of Women, Shewing Their Imperfections Alphabetically, →OCLC, page 9:

     This I shall leave to the judgement of those, who have passed the Pikes, and know better then my self to speak the truth of it,

• run the gauntlet