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

Amid fears this will burden future generations, the CDU youth wing has also been up in arms about a creaking state pensions system in fast-greying Germany that they fear they'll have to pay for in future.

From Barron's

The teams were up in arms and complained.

From BBC

Though staunch Brontë loyalists are bound to be up in arms about these larger-than-life details, Fennell’s rich stylistic elements are what differentiate this “Wuthering Heights” from the countless others that are far more faithful to the book, and thus, much more predictable and trite.

From Salon

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

U.S. voters aren’t the only ones up in arms about affordability.

From Barron's