To Take Up Arms Meaning, Synonyms, Examples

It’s such a relief when the main lead in a movie finally decides to take up arms and fight the bad guy. The idiom means to prepare to fight or to start fighting, usually with weapons such as guns or swords. This phrase is often used to describe a situation where a group of people rebel against a government or an oppressor, or where a country goes to war with another country. Read on to know how to use this idiom correctly in a sentence.

Usage With Examples

This idiom first appeared in the 1400s and is still used today in formal or literary contexts. It can also be used figuratively to mean to become involved in a conflict or a debate, as in an author taking up arms against the critics who attacked his work. Here are some other examples 

1. The colonists took up arms against the British rule in the American Revolution.
2. The protesters threatened to take up arms if their demands were not met.
3. The two nations took up arms over a disputed territory.

Also Read: 500+ Useful Idioms with Examples, Sentences & Meanings

Synonyms and Similar Phrases

There are several other words and phrases in English that mean the same as the phrase “to take up arms”. Some of them are as follows:

1. Fight
2. Do battle
3. Give battle
4. Wage war
5. Go to war
6. Make war
7. Attack
8. Mount an attack
9. Combat
10. Engage

To Take Up Arms Quiz

Fill in the blank with the correct word to complete the sentence:

The angry rebels decided _____ against the tyrannical regime.

A) to give up the arms

B) to take up arms

C) to put away the arms

D) to lay down the arms

The correct answer is B.

We hope that this blog helped you understand the idiom “to take up arms” and its meaning, origin and usage in a sentence, and its synonyms. Explore more idioms like this every day by subscribing to Leverage Edu. Happy Learning!