up in arms

Idioms  

1. Angry, rebellious, as in The town was up in arms over the state's plan to allow commercial flights at the air base. This idiom originally referred to an armed rebellion and was so used from the late 1500s. Its figurative use dates from about 1700.

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Example Sentences

Farmers across Europe remain unconvinced and are up in arms, including in Spain where they staged a protest against the deal in Madrid earlier this month.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

The rapper’s overhaul of the dwelling saw it reduced to little more than a concrete shell, decimating almost all of Ando’s original design—and leaving design lovers up in arms over its destruction.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 11, 2025

But Meloni’s government is up in arms about the threat to Italian pasta exports.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 10, 2025

"Even Reform voters will be up in arms about the idea," Hendry predicts.

From BBC • Aug. 25, 2025

A few rooting pigs were slaughtered in 1845—by Canadian Englishmen up in arms about the border—but San Piedro Island generally lay clear of violence after that.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson