laying down arms
Ending the fight
Laying down arms is surrendering or ceasing to fight, literally setting down weapons as a gesture of submission or peace.
The phrase appears in contexts of war, rebellion, or armed conflict: The treaty required both sides to lay down their arms.
Figuratively, it can mean ending any prolonged struggle or hostility: After years of feuding, the siblings finally laid down their arms.
- surrenderCease resistance, yield
- unconditional surrenderYielding without any terms
- ceasefireAgreed halt to fighting
- truceAgreed halt to hostilities
- peaceFreedom from disturbance
peace treaty · capitulation · white flag · armistice · yielding · defeat · treaty · reconciliation · burying the hatchet · submission · olive branch · demobilization · negotiation · concession · withdraw · amnesty · pardon · rifles
- peacepeace, peaceful, peacefully, peace sign, peace symbol
- surrendersurrender, surrenders, surrendering, I surrender, capitulate
- Surrenderscapitulation, unconditional surrender, formal surrender, surrender ceremony, white flag
- submissionsubmission hold, submitting, surrendering, capitulation, yielding
- ceasefirestruce, armistice, ceasefire line, ceasefire violation, Christmas truce
laying down armstaking up arms
going to war · opening fire · declaring war · attacking · fighting
laying down armsrearming
Acquiring weapons again
militarizing · arming up · arming · taking up arms · mobilizing
laying, laid, lays, layer, down, downer, downs, downed, downing