take up arms

1. Also, take up the cudgels. Become involved in a conflict, either physical or verbal, as in The Kurds took up arms against the Iranians at least two centuries ago, or Some believe it's the vice-president's job to take up the cudgels for the president. The first term originated in the 1400s in the sense of going to war. The variant, alluding to cudgels as weapons, has been used figuratively since the mid-1600s and is probably obsolescent.

Example Sentences

His backing of the concept of Ivoirité, or Ivorieness, pushed soldiers in the north to take up arms and the country was divided in two.

From BBC

All of them said they were prepared to take up arms again if the ceasefire breaks down.

From BBC

It maintains it took up arms to protect the rights of the minority Tutsi group in DR Congo.

From BBC

Originally a Marxist group, the Kurdistan Workers' Party took up arms calling for an independent state inside Turkey.

From BBC

The UK also raised his threat to call for the "slaughter of white people" and to "take up arms" as a reason for the rejection.

From BBC

Related Words

• defy 
• overthrow 
• renounce 
• resist 
• revolt 
• secede