tooth and nail

"We had to fight tooth and nail for that result," said Smith.

Highlighting her record as education secretary, Phillipson said she had fought "tooth and nail" for policies like the expansion of free school meals.

But according to Ms Skinner's lawyer, all the high-value complex claims are being fought "tooth and nail".

“You come after our votes in California and we will fight you tooth and nail,” he said.

Oil and gas companies are “fighting tooth and nail for what they see as their interests ... but it shouldn’t be the driver of our policy,” he said.