go to water

go to water (third-person singular simple present goes to water, present participle going to water, simple past went to water, past participle gone to water)

1. (informal) To give up under threat or pressure.
   • Cooper, Erin, Powell, Meg, Bovill, Monte (2022 December 9) “Robbins Island wind farm proposal approved on condition of 5-month annual shutdown due to orange-bellied parrots”, in ABC News, Australian broadcasting Corporation: “There's absolutely no doubt this company will appeal the decision of the Tasmanian EPA, and there is no doubt the EPA will go to water. There's also no doubt the federal government will go to water.”