To take the torches and the pitchforks

Means to go for the ogre hunt.
Sometimes misinterpreted as courage, "to take the torches and the pitchforks" is not an act of heroism, nor bravery.
It's rather an act of desperation with the only motivation being to engage sexual activity with a very ugly individual, that would often be confused with an ogre.

Kevin: What happened to Brad at the party last night?
Martin: After 2 am he lost his standards and took the torches and the pitchforks
Kevin: damn man I would never do that (crosses his index and middle-finger behind the back)
Martin: I know! That Katia was a real Ogre!

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/to take the torches and the pitchforks