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

常見搭配
  • take up arms against
  • ready to take up arms
  • call on someone to take up arms
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'.