go for the jugular

phrase

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