go to the war—depart for the scene of a war as a soldier:
- I’m not telling the tale. We all went to the war.
go to war—
1. = go to the war:
- There were lots of other outcomes for her efforts without her going to war for the sake of her country.
2. (of a state) declare or begin a war:
- All nations that go to war have some guilt. It always takes two to tango.