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3. up in arms

up in arms

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*up in arms

 

1. Fig. in armed rebellion. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) The entire population is up in arms. They are up in arms, ready to fight.

2. Fig. very angry. (Fig. on {2}, but without weapons. *Typically: be ~; get ~.) Wally was up in arms about the bill for the broken window. I am really up in arms about what happened.

See also: arm, up

up in arms

very angry Local businessmen are up in arms over the new parking regulations which will make shopping very inconvenient for customers.

Usage notes: often followed by a phrase beginning with over, as in the example, or about: Why aren't we up in arms about children who are not being educated?

See also: arm, up

up in arms

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.

See also: arm, up

up in arms

mod. angry; excited. The whole town was up in arms about the planned highway.

See also: arm, up

up in arms

Extremely upset; indignant.

See also: arm, up