up in arms

*up in arms

1. Fig. in armed rebellion. (*Typically: be\up in arms; get \up in arms.) •

The entire population is up in arms.

•

They are up in arms, ready to fight.

2. Fig. very angry. (Fig. on Q, but without weapons. *Typically: be \up in arms; get \up in arms.) •

Wally was up in arms about the bill for the broken window.

•

I am really up in arms about what happened.

* * *

{adj. phr.} 1. Equipped with guns or weapons and ready to fight. * /All of the colonies were up in arms against the Redcoats./ Syn.: IN ARMS. 2. Very angry and wanting to fight. * /Robert is up in arms because John said he was stupid./ * /The students were up in arms over the new rule against food in the dormitory./