Up in Arms

Posted by ESC on April 19, 2002

In Reply to: Up in Arms posted by JaneS on April 19, 2002

: Can't find an explanation for Up in Arms. Anybody know this one?
: Thanks

"Arms" as in weapons.

UP IN ARMS - "Angry, rebellious. This term originally signified an armed rebellion and was so used from the late 1500's. It began to be used figuratively about 1700, as in 'The members were up in arms when the election was postponed.'" From "Fighting Words: From War, Rebellion, and other Combative Capers" by Christine Ammer (NTC Publishing Group, Chicago, Ill., 1989, 1999).