studs up

prepositional phrase2

1. •
   With the studs (cleats) of one's boots exposed to hit another player, in a way that violates the rules.

   • Huth flies into a sliding tackle, studs up, but gets the ball off Elmander. — 2011
2. •
   (UK) Aggressively, ruthlessly and recklessly.

   • So it was that Oily Mike found himself up against Angela Rayner in the Commons for the third time in a matter of weeks. Labour's deputy leader went in studs up. — 2023