take to the streets
take to the streets — idiom
1. to go out onto public roads and spaces as part of an organised group in order to
to go out onto public roads and spaces as part of an organised group in order to protest against a government, policy, or situation, sometimes involving physical confrontation
Thousands of students took to the streets of Jakarta to demand lower tuition fees.
subject (large group) + take to the streets of [place] + reason
Tamar and her neighbours took to the streets after the city council cut local bus services.
personal subject + took to the streets after [trigger event]
Opposition leaders called on supporters to take to the streets ahead of the disputed election.
Factory workers took to the streets to demand better safety conditions after two colleagues were injured.
- protest
a more general verb that can be individual or collective, formal or informal
- demonstrate
implies a planned, usually peaceful public gathering with a clear message
- march
narrower — specifically means walking in an organised procession, often with signs or chants
- revolt
stronger — suggests active resistance or uprising against authority, not just protest
文法句型
subject + take to the streets + (optional: location / reason)
用法筆記
This idiom is almost always used for collective, politically motivated action in a public space, not for individual street behaviour or small social gatherings. It is very common in news reporting about protests, demonstrations, and civil unrest.