stick with which to beat (someone)

idiom

British, informal
: something that is used to attack or punish (someone) or to make an attack or punishment seem reasonable or right
The fee is just another stick with which to beat the unions.

Examples of stick with which to beat (someone) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
But to use this case as a stick with which to beat the BBC as a news provider would be wrong. The Week Uk, theweek, 10 Aug. 2024 Ever since, Russia has used Bandera as a stick with which to beat the Ukrainian national movement. Anna Reid, Foreign Affairs, 6 Apr. 2022 Republicans say that the Democrats just want a stick with which to beat them. Nr Editors, National Review, 27 May 2021

Dictionary Entries Near stick with which to beat (someone)

stick with

stick with which to beat (someone)

stickwork

Cite this Entry

“Stick with which to beat (someone).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stick%20with%20which%20to%20beat%20%28someone%29. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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