take up the cudgels
verb
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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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 716:
attack,
assault,
assail;
invade;
set upon,
fall upon;
charge,
impugn,
break a lance with,
enter the lists.
assume the offensive,
take the offensive;
be the aggressor,
become the aggressor;
strike the first blow,
draw first blood,
throw the first stone at;
lift a hand against,
draw the sword against;
take up the cudgels;
advance against,
march against;
march upon,
harry;
come on,
show fight.
strike at,
poke at,
thrust at;
aim a blow at,
deal a blow at;
give one a blow,
fetch one a blow,
fetch one a kick,
give one a kick;
have a cut at,
have a shot at,
take a cut at,
take a shot at,
have a fling at,
have a shy at;
be down upon,
pounce upon;
fall foul of,
pitch into,
launch out against;
bait,
slap on the face;
make a thrust at,
make a pass at,
make a set at,
make a dead set at;
bear down upon.
close with,
come to close quarters;
bring to bay.
ride full tilt against;
attack tooth and nail,
go at hammer and tongs.
let fly at,
dash at,
run a tilt at,
rush at,
tilt at,
run at,
fly at,
hawk at,
have at,
let out at;
make a dash,
make a rush at;
strike home;
drive one hard;
press one hard;
be hard upon,
run down,
strike at the root of.
lay about one,
run amuck.
aim at,
draw a bead on [U.S.].
fire upon,
fire at,
fire a shot at;
shoot at,
pop at,
level at,
let off a gun at;
open fire,
pepper,
bombard,
shell,
pour a broadside into;
fire a volley,
fire red-hot shot;
spring a mine.
throw a stone,
throw stones at;
stone,
lapidate†,
pelt;
hurl at,
hurl against,
hurl at the head of;
rock beset [U.S.],
besiege,
beleaguer;
lay siege to,
invest,
open the trenches,
plant a battery,
sap,
mine;
storm,
board,
scale the walls.
cut and thrust,
bayonet,
butt;
kick,
strike
etc.
(impulse)
276;
whip
etc.
(punish)
972.
[attack verbally]
assail,
impugn;
malign
(detract)
934.
bomb,
rocket,
blast.
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