on the warpath

Cultural  

1. From a Native American expression for war, to be “on the warpath” is to be exceedingly angry and to be inclined to take some hostile action: “Watch out! John is on the warpath today.”

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on the warpath Idioms  

1. Furious and on a hostile course of action, as in When the meat wasn't delivered, the chef went on the warpath. This expression was an English translation of a Native American term that literally means “a path used by a war party.” Go on the war path thus meant “go to battle.” It was used in this way by James Fenimore Cooper in The Deerslayer (1841); its present hyperbolic use dates from the late 1800s.

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Example Sentences

Since returning from health and safety protocols, a fully rested Jackson has been on the warpath, reeling in sack after sack.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2021

He lashed out in the direction of Istanbul, taking the Ottoman sultan Bayezid I captive at the Battle of Ankara, south to Delhi, and died on the warpath east to China.

From New York Times • May 11, 2020

This why I’m on the warpath against stopping the virus’ transmission.

From Nature • Apr. 21, 2020

Italy’s rising star lost his way for a while but he’s back on the warpath again.

From The Guardian • Jun. 28, 2017

“Jack told you—” “Called a while ago and said—among other things— that if you weren’t already on the warpath you’d soon be. From what I heard, you already are.”

From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee

Related Words

• desperate
• enraged
• fierce
• frantic
• frenetic
• frenzied
• incensed
• livid
• raging
• vehement
• violent