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Definition

To go to war; to use ruthless tactics; to act without restraint.

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Origins

From Mario Puzo's gangster novel The Godfather (1969). Those involved in such a conflict might be expected to stay in hideouts where they would sleep on mattresses rather than in beds.

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In Context

  • "I want Sollozzo. If not, it's all-out war. We'll go to the mattresses."
  • "They will have to go to the mattresses; that is they will have to risk a long ugly strike."
  • "Now, when you're fighting Republicans . . . Democrats are all rallied around and ready to go ahead and go to the mattresses."
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See Also

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