in het geweer komen
Dutch
editEtymology
editFigurative sense for an earlier, now obsolete literal sense “to get under arms”, in which the sense of the word geweer as a verbal noun of the verb (zich) weren (“to defend oneself”) has also become obsolete.
Pronunciation
editVerb
edit- (intransitive) to come into action; to oppose; to protest; to resist [with tegen ‘against’]
- De actievoerders kwamen in het geweer tegen het kappen van de bomen.
- The activists came into action against the cutting of the trees.
Usage notes
editThe verb komen imparts an inchoative sense, signaling the transition from inaction to action.
Inflection
editConjugation of in het geweer komen: see komen.