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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

take up arms

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

The M23 are led by ethnic Tutsis, who say they needed to take up arms to protect the rights of the minority group.

From BBC ● Feb. 16, 2025

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

On the first form, I answer several variations on the questions of whether I’m a communist, a criminal, or a terrorist and whether I would take up arms to defend the United States.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon

Related Words

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