to arms
Call to fight
To arms is a call to take up weapons and prepare to fight.
Historically shouted as an alarm or rallying cry when enemy forces approached: To arms! The British are coming!
Now mostly used figuratively or rhetorically to urge people to mobilize for a cause: The union called its members to arms over proposed wage cuts.
- weaponsTools for fighting
- patriotismDevotion to one's homeland
- war cryCombatants' rallying shout
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
mobilization · enlistment · revolution · preparation · vigilance · swords · battle stations · muster · call to action · rally cry · sovereignty · rebellion · solidarity · resistance · fight back · declaration · combat readiness · manifesto
to armsretreat
Sanctuary or withdrawal
fall back · stand down · lay down arms · withdraw · beat a retreat
to armsstand down
Withdraw from readiness
at ease · stand easy · as you were · dismissed · off duty
to armsmake peace
Resolve conflict between parties
surrender · lay down arms · demobilize · disarm · capitulate
arm, arms, armed, arming, armament, armaments, disarm, disarmed, disarming