take up arms
Start armed conflict
To take up arms is to prepare for or engage in armed conflict—literally, to pick up weapons.
The phrase appears in contexts ranging from revolution to self-defense: The colonists took up arms against the crown.
Figuratively, it means to join a fight or cause with vigor: Activists took up arms against the proposed legislation.
- warArmed struggle between groups
- civil warDomestic armed conflict
- resistOppose or refuse compliance
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
- mutinyRevolt against authority
combatants · uprising · revolutionaries · rebellion · insurrection · fight · fight back · guerrilla warfare · militia · rally the troops · band together · go to war · defiance · coup · riot · conflict · battle · skirmish
take up armssurrender
Cease resistance, yield
lay down arms · capitulate · submit · yield · give up
take up armsnegotiate
Discuss to reach agreement
make peace · come to terms · parley · mediate · reconcile
take up armsdisarm
Remove capacity to harm
lay down arms · surrender · demobilize · stand down · capitulate
take, takes, taken, taking, taker, takers, uptake, arm, arms