go to the mat

G g

Definitions of go to the mat words

noun go to the mat a piece of fabric made of plaited or woven rushes, straw, hemp, or similar fiber, or of some other pliant material, as rubber, used as a protective covering on a floor or other surface, to wipe the shoes on, etc. 1
noun go to the mat a smaller piece of material, often ornamental, set under a dish of food, a lamp, vase, etc. 1
noun go to the mat Sports. the padded canvas covering the entire floor of a wrestling ring, for protecting the contestants from injury when thrown. a thick pad placed on the floor for the protection of tumblers and others engaged in gymnastic sports. 1
noun go to the mat a thickly growing or thick and tangled mass, as of hair or weeds. 1
noun go to the mat a sack made of matting, as for coffee or sugar. 1
noun go to the mat a slablike footing of concrete, especially one for an entire building. 1

before 900

One of the 4% oldest English words

before 900; Middle English, Old English matte < Late Latin matta mat of rushes < Semitic; compare Hebrew mittāh bed

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 97% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

bear — If you bear something somewhere, you carry it there or take it there.
bite the bullet — to face up to (pain, trouble, etc) with fortitude; be stoical
brace — If you brace yourself for something unpleasant or difficult, you prepare yourself for it.
brave — Someone who is brave is willing to do things which are dangerous, and does not show fear in difficult or dangerous situations.
confront — If you are confronted with a problem, task, or difficulty, you have to deal with it.