get-tough, take on, commune, all comers

  Farmers’ Anger at Trump Tariffs Puts Republican Candidates in a Bind

By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG and ANA SWANSON

President Trump is moving to fulfill one of his central campaign promises, but a get-tough stance with China could reverberate badly in the nation’s heartland

Trump Takes On All Comers, Believing Himself the Victor

By PETER BAKER

If his Twitter blasts inflame racial tensions or alienate his cabinet, those are trade-offs the president has been willing to make in the quest to appear tough to his base.

Bloomberg Takes on the N.R.A.

By JOE NOCERA

The country needs New York's mayor to lead it to a saner gun policy.

 

Google+ Opens Up to All Comers

By CLAIRE CAIN MILLER

Google opened its social network, Google+, to the public, and added new features to help it compete with Facebook.

The start-up company came out of nowhere, building a database application beloved by vibrant, young Internet companies. Logging in from homes scattered around the globe, its workers seemed more a part of a virtual commune than a corporate monolith, and they relished taking on proprietary software giants like Microsoft.


get-tough 
Definition of get-tough in US English - designating an approach or attitude characterized by assertiveness, firmness, or aggressiveness.
take on
1. Undertake or begin to deal with, as in I took on new responsibilities, or She took on too much when she accepted both assignments. [Early 1300s]
2. Hire, engage, as in We take on extra workers during the busy season. [Early 1600s]
3. Oppose in competition, as in This young wrestler was willing to take on all comers. [Late 1800s]
4. Display strong emotion, as in Don't take on so. [Colloquial; early 1400s]
5. Acquire as, or as if, one's own, as in He took on the look of a prosperous banker. [Late 1700s]

all comers

PHRASE

informal 

• Anyone who chooses to take part in an activity, typically a competition.

  ‘the champion took on all comers’

comer[com・er]

• 発音記号[kʌ'mər]

[名]

1 ((通例複合語))来る人［物］, 新来者

all comers
((略式))来る人全部；すべての挑戦希望者.

2 ((米略式))将来有望な人［物］.