English Reference
Idiom idiom

go for the throat


To exert an unrestrained, aggressive effort, especially by assailing an opponent's or victim's area of greatest vulnerability.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

“In the final round, he decided to go for the throat.”

CONTEXTUAL

“The lawyer waited until the witness was confused before she went for the throat with a difficult question.”

COMPLEX

“Rather than seeking a compromise, the rival company went for the throat by launching an aggressive campaign aimed at their competitor's weakest market.”


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all dressed up and nowhere to go

    Elaborately attired or otherwise fully prepared for an anticipated situation or activity which, nevertheless, fails to occur.

  2. 02

    all systems go

    Everything is ready.

  3. 03

    as you go

    While one is doing (something); as one progresses.

  4. 04

    boldly go where no man has gone before

    To break new ground.

  5. 05

    bone in the throat

    A source of continuing annoyance; a hindrance.

  6. 06

    bring a lump to someone's throat

    To engender a strong emotional reaction.

  7. 07

    come and go

    To repeatedly appear and disappear; to be transient.

  8. 08

    don't go there

    Do not broach that topic.

Last updated August 10, 2026