take up arms

IPA/tˈeɪk ˌʌp ˈɑːmz/
IPA/tˈeɪk ˌʌp ˈɑːɹmz/

take up arms — 慣用語

1. to get weapons ready and be willing to join a war or violent struggle, usually a

1.慣用語C1
釋義

拿起武器

備妥武器準備投入戰鬥或反抗

to get weapons ready and be willing to join a war or violent struggle, usually against a ruler, an army, or an unfair system

例句

Thousands of farmers chose to take up arms when the king raised their taxes again.

當國王再次加重賦稅時，數千名農民選擇拿起武器反抗。

take up arms when [trigger event] — a cause that pushes people to fight

Emre refused to take up arms against his own neighbours, even under heavy pressure.

即使承受沉重壓力，Emre 仍拒絕拿起武器對付自己的鄰居。

take up arms against [people] for the side or enemy chosen

同義詞
  • rise up

    stresses rebelling against authority; doesn't always mean using weapons

  • go to war

    broader; describes whole nations or armies, not a sudden citizen response

反義詞
  • lay down arms

    the fixed opposite: to stop fighting and give up weapons

文法句型

take up arms against [someone/something]

用法筆記

Subject is usually a group of ordinary people rather than a standing army; the phrase frames the fighting as a response to injustice, attack, or a call to action. Often followed by 'against' plus the target.

常見錯誤

❌The soldiers took up an arm against the rebels.
✅The soldiers took up arms against the rebels.
💡the idiom is fixed with plural 'arms'; never singular 'arm'.