go for the jugular
idiom
informal
: to attack or criticize an opponent in a very aggressive way
He will very quickly go for the jugular in the debate.
Examples of go for the jugular in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
People in Boston go at you, but in Philly go for the jugular.
—
Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Oct. 2022
Whether playing safety or scrum-half, Keough prefers to go for the jugular.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2022
Even with an understanding of Smart’s talent, McDonald felt his co-star’s responses in his gut each time Marty has to go for the jugular.
—Carita Rizzo, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Aug. 2022
An instinct to go for the jugular was a hallmark of the governor’s long political career.
—New York Times, 3 Feb. 2022
There are few targets riper for satire than the customs and conventions of affluent suburbanites, and yet only a piddling handful of pop-culture parodies go for the jugular with the requisite precision or salutary bloodlust.
—Washington Post, 15 Oct. 2021
During a second-half surge in which the defense created turnovers on four consecutive possessions, the offense missed its opportunity to go for the jugular.
—Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, 21 Sep. 2021
Her motivation: fear that the Biden White House and most Democratic consultants are too reasonable and too reluctant to go for the jugular.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 16 Aug. 2021
Old Bo songs don’t ever go for the jugular.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 16 June 2021
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Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Oct. 2022
Whether playing safety or scrum-half, Keough prefers to go for the jugular.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2022
Even with an understanding of Smart’s talent, McDonald felt his co-star’s responses in his gut each time Marty has to go for the jugular.
—Carita Rizzo, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Aug. 2022
An instinct to go for the jugular was a hallmark of the governor’s long political career.
—New York Times, 3 Feb. 2022
There are few targets riper for satire than the customs and conventions of affluent suburbanites, and yet only a piddling handful of pop-culture parodies go for the jugular with the requisite precision or salutary bloodlust.
—Washington Post, 15 Oct. 2021
During a second-half surge in which the defense created turnovers on four consecutive possessions, the offense missed its opportunity to go for the jugular.
—Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, 21 Sep. 2021
Her motivation: fear that the Biden White House and most Democratic consultants are too reasonable and too reluctant to go for the jugular.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 16 Aug. 2021
Old Bo songs don’t ever go for the jugular.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 16 June 2021
Cite this Entry
“Go for the jugular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/go%20for%20the%20jugular. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
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