go at (one) hammer and tongs

go at (one) hammer and tongs

To aggressively confront one . If the boss blames you for this printing mishap, he'll go at you hammer and tongs in no time.See also: and, go, hammer, tongs

be/go at somebody/something ˌhammer and ˈtongs

(informal) do something, especially argue or fight, with a lot of energy and noise: The boss went at me hammer and tongs. I’ve never seen him so angry. ♢ The couple in the flat upstairs are always at it hammer and tongs.This idiom refers to the loud noise made by a blacksmith at work when he is making horseshoes. He uses a pair of tongs to hold the hot iron and a hammer to beat the iron into the shape of the shoe.See also: and, go, hammer, somebody, something, tongs