up in arms
Meaning: Angry or upset.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The expression is often used to describe groups of people rather than individuals. Arms refers to weapons. Thus the people are so angry that they are ready to take up weapons (at least figuratively).
More idioms — Daily Life
- up in the air — Unsettled or undecided.
- upper crust — The highest level of society, i.e. people who are separated from ordinary people as being…
- up to snuff — Meeting the minimum standard requirements; as good as is required.
- use one's wits — To use one's intelligence, knowledge, or wisdom.
- wait for one's ship to come in — When one gets an unexpected lucky gift, especially money.
- walk in someone's shoes — In someone else's situation.
More English idioms
- walking on air — Blissfully happy.
- wash one's hands of something or someone — To put something out of one's life or to stop claiming responsibility for something.
- wear the pants in the family — To make the major decisions and have the greatest amount of power in a family.
- wet behind the ears — Young and inexperienced.
- wet blanket — A person who is seen as never wanting to take part in fun activities; a person who ruins…
- not what it's cracked up to be — Not as good as its reputation; not as good as it is supposed to be.
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