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

On Thursday, he left everybody in the stands rooting for the Dodgers up in arms, booing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 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 teams were up in arms and complained.

From BBC ● Feb. 16, 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

I wait too because Mom’s just come into the bedroom from the shower, and the first word poised to come out of my mouth would have had her up in arms.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali