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Synonyms

take up arms

Idioms  

  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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The universal message of Purim is prayer for the protective hand of God when confronted with evil, and the importance of men and women willing to take up arms to confront that evil.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

But his swift decision to take up arms was a warning to us all.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2024

And his military reservists are now, understandably, ready to take up arms to defend their country.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 13, 2023

He says he never liked guns, but felt compelled to take up arms when Russia invaded.

From BBC • Jul. 31, 2023

The reparations were intended to weaken Germany so that it would never take up arms again.

From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.