take up the cudgels

take up the cudgels (third-person singular simple present takes up the cudgels, present participle taking up the cudgels, simple past took up the cudgels, past participle taken up the cudgels)

1. To engage in a contest.
2. (idiomatic, followed by on behalf of or for) to make a defence for someone or something; to intercede supportively.

• take up the cudgels for

• take up the cudgel for