prendere le difese

Literally, “to take the defenses”. Compare French prendre la défense.

prèndere le difese (first-person singular present prèndo le difese, first-person singular past historic prési le difese, past participle préso le difese, auxiliary avére)

1. to come to the defense [+ di (someone) = of]; to stand up [+ di (someone) = for]
   • 2020, Barack Obama, translated by Chicca Galli, Paolo Lucca, and Giuseppe Maugeri, Una terra promessa [A Promised Land], Garzanti Libri:

     Inoltre, siccome adorava il genero, non esitava a prendere le mie difese ogniqualvolta fossi in ritardo, in disordine o comunque non all'altezza delle aspettative.

     She also happened to love her son-in-law and would rise to my defense whenever I was late, messy, or otherwise not up to scratch.

     (literally, “Moreover, because she adored her son-in-law, she did not hesitate to come to my defense whenever I was late, in disorder or anyways not living up to expectations.”)