take the stump

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]

Verb

[edit]

take the stump (third-person singular simple present takes the stump, present participle taking the stump, simple past took the stump, past participle taken the stump)

  1. (chiefly US) To make a series of political speeches, especially to promote a particular cause.
    • 1988, James McPherson, Battle Cry for Freedom, Oxford, published 2003, page 127:
      Still calling himself a Whig, Lincoln took the stump in behalf of anti-Nebraska candidates for the legislature, hoping that victory would forge a legislative majority to elect him to the U. S. Senate.