come to blows
verb
Roget 722:
arm;
raise troops,
mobilize troops;
raise up in arms;
take up the cudgels
etc.
720;
take up arms,
fly to arms,
appeal to arms,
fly to the sword;
draw the sword,
unsheathe the sword;
dig up the hatchet,
dig up the tomahawk;
go to war,
wage war,
let slip the dogs of war"
[Julius Caesar];
cry havoc;
kindle the torch of war,
light the torch of war;
raise one's banner,
raise the fire cross;
hoist the black flag;
throw away,
fling away the scabbard;
enroll,
enlist;
take the field;
take the law into one's own hands;
do battle,
give battle,
join battle,
engage in battle,
go to battle;
flesh one's sword;
set to,
fall to,
engage,
measure swords with,
draw the trigger,
cross swords;
come to blows,
come to close quarters;
fight;
combat;
contend
etc.
720;
battle with,
break a lance with.
[pirates engage in battle]
raise the jolly roger,
run up the jolly roger.
serve;
see service,
be on service,
be on active service;
campaign;
wield the sword,
shoulder a musket,
smell powder,
be under fire;
spill blood,
imbrue the hands in blood;
on the warpath.
carry on war,
carry on hostilities;
keep the field;
fight the good fight;
fight it out,
fight like devils,
fight one's way,
fight hand to hand;
sell one's life dearly;
pay the ferryman's fee.
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Roget 720:
contend;
contest,
strive,
struggle,
scramble,
wrestle;
spar,
square;
exchange blows,
exchange fisticuffs;
fib†,
justle†,
tussle,
tilt,
box,
stave,
fence;
skirmish;
pickeer†;
fight
etc.
(war)
722;
wrangle
etc.
(quarrel)
713.
contend with
&c.,
grapple with,
engage with,
close with,
buckle with,
bandy with,
try conclusions with,
have a brush
etc.
n..
with,
tilt with;
encounter,
fall foul of,
pitch into,
clapperclaw†,
run a tilt at;
oppose
etc.
708;
reluct.
join issue,
come to blows,
go to loggerheads,
set to,
come to the scratch,
exchange shots,
measure swords,
meet hand to hand;
take up the cudgels,
take up the glove,
take up the gauntlet;
enter the lists;
couch one's lance;
give satisfaction;
appeal to arms;
etc.
(warfare)
722.
lay about one;
break the peace.
compete with,
cope with,
vie with,
race with;
outvie†,
emulate,
rival;
run a race;
contend for
&c.,
stipulate for,
stickle for;
insist upon,
make a point of.
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