Knives are out

If the knives are out for someone, it means that person faces hostility or harm to reputation, standing etc. Obviously, the knives here are metaphorical but the concept of words and accusations being used as weaponry is very old as witnessed by expressions like; the pen is mightier than the sword and being at daggers drawn. Such metaphors were quite common by the 17th century as this quotation from the King James Bible (1611) proves, “His words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.” (Psalms 55:21). The knives are out for someone is British informal, and is a more modern version of these older concepts, dating from the mid-20th century.