at arms

A Day was was apponted for the ſolemn Act of doing Homage. The great Hall in the Fort was hung with Silk, rich Canopys ſet up; the Governour took his Seat under the chiefest of them, all the Forces being at Arms ; and then he declar'd to the Kings the Occaſion of aſſembling them together, which was to ſwear Fealty to his Majeſty, a Duty that had been ſo long put off, and at the ſame Time ſo much labour'd for by War.

1711, “The Diſcovery and Conqueſt of the Spice-Islands”, in John Stevens, editor, A New Collection of Voyages and Travels, into ſeveral Parts of the World, none of them ever before Printed in English, page 254

"What are you tired of, Marge?" asks Bill. "For a long time now I've been helping everyone close to me keep it together. And people at work too. I'm tired of helping people! So what kind of a therapist would I be in that case?" "Where do you feel that in your body?" Bill asks. "Feel what?" "The tension of helping and being tired from helping." "Good question," Margie says. "Let's see, it's in my head. It's like a cap I'm wearing, tension all around my skull. And somewhere else … in my elbows. Yes. It's like always being ready to do something." "Always being 'at arms'?" "Yes. Ever ready."

1996 [1993], Mary Bond, “Winning the game”, in Balancing Your Body: A Self-Help Approach to Rolfing Movement, Healing Arts Press, →ISBN, page 201

The British march that night found the Continental Army at arms and ready to repel, and Howe was forced to return to Philadelphia.

2010, “Nonmilitary figures of the American revolution”, in Jeffrey H. Wallenfeldt, editor, The American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812: People, Politics, and Power, Britannica Educational Publishing, →ISBN, page 137