I will rouse the workers to action. They will work or have to find other jobs.
•The speech by the president roused the citizens to action.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
rouse — [rauz] v [T] [Date: 1400 1500; Origin: Perhaps from Old French ruser; RUSH1] 1.) formal to wake someone who is sleeping deeply ▪ His banging roused the neighbours. rouse sb from sleep/dreams etc ▪ A persistent ringing roused Christina from a… … Dictionary of contemporary English
rouse — [ rauz ] verb transitive 1. ) FORMAL to wake someone up: He was fast asleep and could not be roused. 2. ) to make someone become active, especially when they are tired, lazy, or unwilling to do something: He roused the crowd to stand up and fight … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
rouse — [[t]ra͟ʊz[/t]] rouses, rousing, roused 1) V ERG If someone rouses you when you are sleeping or if you rouse, you wake up. [LITERARY] [V n] Hilton roused him at eight thirty by rapping on the door... When I put my hand on his, he stirs but doesn t … English dictionary
rouse — verb 1 raise sb (from their sleep/slumbers) to wake someone up with difficulty because they are sleeping deeply 2 (T) to make someone start doing something, especially when they have been too tired or unwilling to do it: rouse sb into action: The … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
rouse — UK [raʊz] / US verb [transitive] Word forms rouse : present tense I/you/we/they rouse he/she/it rouses present participle rousing past tense roused past participle roused 1) formal to wake someone up He was fast asleep and could not be roused. 2) … English dictionary
shake someone up — rouse someone from lethargy, apathy, or complacency he had to do something to shake the team up we lacked spark … Useful english dictionary
turn on — verb 1. cause to operate by flipping a switch (Freq. 12) switch on the light turn on the stereo • Syn: ↑switch on • Ant: ↑switch off (for: ↑ … Useful english dictionary
drive out — verb 1. force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings (Freq. 1) Drive away potential burglars drive away bad thoughts dispel doubts The supermarket had to turn back many disappointed customers • Syn: ↑chase away, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
shake — verb (past shook; past participle shaken) 1》 tremble or vibrate or cause to do so. ↘tremble uncontrollably with strong emotion. 2》 move forcefully or quickly up and down or to and fro. ↘remove from something by shaking. ↘brandish in… … English new terms dictionary
turn back — verb 1. retrace one s course (Freq. 7) The hikers got into a storm and had to turn back • Syn: ↑backtrack, ↑double back • Hypernyms: ↑return • Verb Frames … Useful english dictionary
shake — shakable, shakeable, adj. /shayk/, v., shook, shaken, shaking, n. v.i. 1. to move or sway with short, quick, irregular vibratory movements. 2. to tremble with emotion, cold, etc. 3. to become dislodged and fall (usually fol. by off … Universalium
