From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishthe knives are out (for somebody)the knives are out (for somebody)informalUNFRIENDLY used to say that people are being extremely unfriendly in criticizing someone The knives are out for the vice president. → knife
Examples from the Corpus
the knives are out (for somebody)• The service is in ferment at the moment, the knives are out. 