take to the streets

English

Verb

take to the streets (third-person singular simple present takes to the streets, present participle taking to the streets, simple past took to the streets, past participle taken to the streets)

1. (intransitive, of a crowd of people) To gather together in the public streets of a town or city to show communal solidarity in either celebration or opposition.
   • 2023 May 15, Rebecca Ratcliffe, “Thai election may be turning point as taboo over monarchy fades”, in The Guardian‎^[1]:

     But for the first time, the lese-majesty law was discussed substantially […] It follows an unprecedented youth movement that took to the streets in 2020 to challenge that law and to call for the royal budget to be reduced and its political influence curbed.

2. (intransitive) To rampage or riot.