on the warpath
7
7.9
- idiom
- Informal
:
enojado
- After hearing the unfair criticism, Sarah was on the warpath and demanded an apology.
- go on the warpath
- on the warpath again
It means it's time for you to fight harder to dig in means it's time for you to go on the warpath.
- It means it's time for you to fight harder to dig in means it's time for you to go on the warpath.
Examples
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The employees are on the warpath after the company's sudden decision to cut their benefits.
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The old man's on the warpath.
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The government has been on the warpath, taking freedom from the people.
Blog text (9) -
Watch out Tommy, the ice queen's on the warpath.
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Take it the boss lady's on the warpath this morning.
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Sarah's on the warpath, so I suggest you play nice.
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Johnny says Cole's been on the warpath all week.
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That reminds me, Mrs. Alsop's on the warpath again.
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Our spies tell us that Mother Ginger is on the warpath... gathering all her forces.
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She's on the warpath.
Synonyms
46
7.9
Wanting strongly to hurt someone who hurt you
3
7.1
Wanting to punish someone for a wrong they did to you
Antonyms
How Angry
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is built from the locative preposition 'on' plus the noun 'warpath', and 'warpath' denotes a state of anger or hostility; the pattern 'on the X' meaning 'in a state of X' is a regular English composition. Therefore a B1 learner who knows the constituents (especially 'warpath') can directly derive the meaning 'angry and ready to punish', making the expression transparent.
Etymology
The idiom on the warpath may come from the picture of warriors marching along a path to start a fight; they were ready and determined. That's why today saying someone is on the warpath means they are 'very angry' and 'set on punishing someone or getting what they want'.