What does ‘up in arms’ mean?
To “up in arms” means to angrily protesting. Brewer's records this originally as a military expression for being ready to fight; the figurative sense of public indignation followed.
Origin
- Brewer's records this originally as a military expression for being ready to fight; the figurative sense of public indignation followed.
How to use it
- Common in news reporting of protest.
- Example: Residents are up in arms about the new tax.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.