campaign
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be on the campaign trail
To be engaged in a schedule of traveling to different places to campaign for the election of a specific political candidate, possibly oneself. Of course I think she'd make a fine senator—that's why I'm on the campaign trail for her. Being on the campaign trail is not for the faint of heart. The long hours on the road, the repetitive speeches, the manic workload—it's utterly exhausting. When he was on the campaign trail, he made lots of promises, and he has not followed through on any of them!
campaign against (someone or something)
1. To strongly oppose someone or something and encourage others to do the same; to fight against someone or something. Many people in our small town are campaigning against that big construction project because they feel that we don't need more stores so close to our homes. Of course she's campaigning against the Republican candidate—she's always been a Democrat. I know a lot of people have been campaigning against the addition of billboards to the highway that runs through our town.
2. To pursue an elected office against a specific opponent. I'll never win the student council presidency if I have to campaign against Caroline—she's so popular! No, she didn't campaign against anyone, she ran unopposed! That's the only reason she won! Well, he sure is going to have a hard time if he has to campaign against that beloved senator.
See also: campaign
campaign for (someone or something)
1. To strongly support someone or something and encourage others to do the same; to fight in favor of someone or something. Many people in our small town are campaigning for that big construction project because the closest store right now is 10 miles away. Of course she's campaigning for the more liberal candidate—she's always been a Democrat. Why would anyone campaign for the addition of billboards to the highway that runs through our town?
2. To support a candidate pursuing an elected office and encourage others to do the same. I'm campaigning for Caroline in the race for student council president—here, have a button! Why are you campaigning for Henry all of a sudden? I thought you didn't like him at all. I would never campaign for that guy—he seems like a total moron!
no holds barred
Having no restraints or restrictions. An allusion to wrestling, in which certain holds are disallowed. Usually used before a noun, in which case it is hyphenated. Her no-holds-barred interview of the president has been making waves across the nation. The play is a no-holds-barred indictment of religion. I could hear them arguing no holds barred.
on the campaign trail
Engaged in a schedule of traveling to different places to campaign for the election of a specific political candidate, possibly oneself. You'd make a fine senator, so I'll certainly endorse you on the campaign trail. Being on the campaign trail is not for the faint of heart. The long hours on the road, the repetitive speeches, the manic workload—it's utterly exhausting.
rumor campaign
A concentrated and prolonged effort to damage or ruin someone's or some group's reputation through the perpetuation of rumors, innuendos, or falsehoods, generally as a means of persuading a large number of people against him, her, or them. Primarily heard in US. The local sheriff's slim lead heading into the election quickly evaporated after he found himself at the wrong end of a vicious rumor campaign. I think we need to start a rumor campaign to slow down the competitor's growth in the market, but no one can know that it's coming from us!
rumour campaign
A concentrated and prolonged effort to damage or ruin someone's or some group's reputation through the perpetuation of rumors, innuendos, falsehoods, generally as a means of persuading a large amount of people against him, her, or them. Primarily heard in UK. Finding himself at the wrong end of a vicious rumour campaign, the local MP's slim lead heading into the election quickly evaporated. I think we need to start a rumour campaign to slow down the competitor's growth in the market, but no one can know that it's coming from us!
shoe-leather campaign
A series of coordinated on-foot, door-to-door efforts to increase a political candidate's support among voters ahead of an election. We won because we ran an old-fashioned shoe-leather campaign. By talking to voters across the county and getting to know them personally, we have been able to earn their trust and their vote. Severe weather conditions have made shoe-leather campaigns more difficult in this part of the country, so both parties have pivoted to increased email and text messaging efforts.
See also: campaign
smear campaign
A concentrated and prolonged effort to damage or ruin someone's or some group's reputation through the perpetuation of claims about their failures or faults, whether these are true, exaggerated, or falsified. Generally as a means of persuading a large number of people against him, her, or them, especially in a political election. Primarily heard in US. The local sheriff's slim lead heading into the election quickly evaporated after a vicious smear campaign began targeting his former substance abuse. I think we need to start a smear campaign to slow down the competitor's growth in the market, but no one can know that it's coming from us!
the campaign trail
The schedule of traveling through various cities in which one stops and campaign for the election of a specific political candidate, possibly oneself. You'd be a fine senator, so I'll certainly endorse you on the campaign trail. The campaign trail is not for the faint of heart. The long hours on the road, the repetitive speeches, the manic workload—it's utterly exhausting.
whispering campaign
The spread of rumors, with the intent of damaging a person's reputation The whispering campaign that the opposition has launched against me is just awful! I haven't done any of the things they've claimed! I'm always skeptical of the terrible allegations that come out in these whispering campaigns.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
campaign against someone or something
1. to crusade or battle against someone or something. Currently, I am campaigning against littering. Sarah is campaigning against crooked politicians.
2. to run one's political campaign against someone or something. I campaigned against the incumbent and won. John spent a lot of time campaigning against Sarah for class president.
See also: campaign
campaign for someone or something
to support actively someone or someone's candidacy for political office. I would be very happy to campaign for you. I want to campaign for the winning candidate.
no holds barred
Fig. with no restraints. (Alludes to a wrestling match in which all holds are legal.) I intend to argue it out with Mary, no holds barred. When Ann negotiates a contract, she goes in with no holds barred and comes out with a good contract.
smear campaign (against someone)
a campaign aimed at damaging someone's reputation by making accusations and spreading rumors. The politician's opponents are engaging in a smear campaign against him. Jack started a smear campaign against Tom so that Tom wouldn't get the manager's job.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
no holds barred
Without any restrictions, as in Telephone companies are entering the market for Internet users with no holds barred. This expression comes from wrestling, where certain holds are illegal, or barred, and has been used figuratively since about 1940.
smear campaign
An attempt to ruin a reputation by slander or vilification, as in This press agent is well known for starting smear campaigns against her clients' major competitors . This phrase was first recorded in 1938 and uses smear in the sense of "an attempt to discredit" or "slander."
whispering campaign
A deliberate spreading of derogatory rumors about a candidate, as in That whispering campaign destroyed his chances for election. [c. 1920]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
no holds barred
no rules or restrictions apply in a particular conflict or dispute.No holds barred was originally a phrase used only in wrestling, where it indicated that there were no restrictions on the kinds of holds used.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
(with) ˌno ˌholds ˈbarred
(of fighting, competition, etc.) with no or very few rules or restrictions: This started off as a very clean election campaign, but now it’s no holds barred. ♢ a no-holds-barred row over the latest political scandalIn wrestling, no holds barred means that there are no rules about which ways of holding your opponent are allowed and which are not.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
no holds barred
mod. without restriction. (There is no affirmative version of this.) I want you to get that contract. Do anything—no holds barred.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
no holds barred
Without limits, regulations, or restraints.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
no holds barred
Without any restrictions. The term comes from wrestling, where certain holds are illegal. Its figurative use dates from the mid-1900s. For example, “No holds were barred, so to speak, for the Prince’s unorthodox education” (Times, Nov. 28, 1958).
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer