tooth and tong

comparative more tooth and tong · superlative most tooth and tong

1. Presenting a vigorous and unified opposition.

   The old guard is fighting his economic reforms tooth and tong.

   1991, Richard Herman, Firebreak, page 71

   2 more examples

   In 1935, I think it was, when a number of Senators and Congressmen introduced grain alcohol bills similar to the one Senator Mundt and I have introduced—but we are told those bills were fought tooth and tong by the oil interests, hence never became law.

   1957, United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, Agricultural Situation and Farm Programs

   Mrs. Meier, wife of the under sheriff at the jail, turned against me. And Duane West is one of my bitterest enemies. And they were sort of working tooth and tong.

   1973, Denis Brian, Murderers and Other Friendly People