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

See Examples For:

up in arms

“It amazes me that travelers are not up in arms about the way they get treated,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

An Illinois law set to go into effect this summer would ban interchange fee on taxes and tips, and has banks up in arms.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 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 ● Mar. 3, 2026

French politicians across the divide have been up in arms against the deal, which they view as an assault on the country's influential farming sector.

From Barron's ● Jan. 14, 2026

Even Pita, with her newfound courage, was up in arms.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall