The idiom "go to the mattresses" means to prepare for a long and difficult fight or conflict. It is often used to describe a situation where someone is getting ready to engage in a serious battle or struggle, whether it be physical, emotional, or intellectual.
The origin of this phrase comes from the Italian-American community, where it was used to describe the practice of storing mattresses in a safe place in case of a gang war. The mattresses would be used as makeshift barricades to protect against gunfire.
In modern usage, the phrase is often used metaphorically to describe any situation where someone is preparing for a difficult and prolonged struggle. For example, a politician might "go to the mattresses" in order to fight for a controversial policy proposal, or a business might "go to the mattresses" in order to compete with a rival company.
Overall, "going to the mattresses" implies a willingness to fight hard and endure a long and difficult struggle in order to achieve a goal or overcome an obstacle.
• I'm so tired by the end of the day, I just go to the mattresses and sleep.
• The two rival gangs decided to go to the mattresses and engage in a full-blown turf war.
• The politician knew he had to go to the mattresses and fight tooth and nail to win the election.
• When negotiations failed, the union was forced to go to the mattresses and strike for better working conditions.
• After the company's latest scandal, the CEO had to go to the mattresses to save his reputation.
• In times of war, nations must be willing to go to the mattresses and defend their sovereignty at any cost.