Reports at the weekend seemed to suggest he is relishing putting his department on a war footing with teachers.

BBC: Deduct pay from teachers who work to rule, urges Gove

It needs to be tackled on a war footing.

BBC: India's activists on warpath against the government

Having only recently emerged from an epoch of total war, the U.S. responded by going on to a total-war footing.

FORBES: Magazine Article

The army and police have made a start on relaxing their war-footing, with demolition planned of several heavily fortified barracks.

ECONOMIST: Anglo-Irish relations

They were there, on duty, that September morning, having enlisted in a time of peace, but they instantly transitioned to a war footing.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama at the American Legion Conference