clenched fists in front of one's body and stand in a threatening or defiant manner, in preparation for a fistfight.' name='description'> put up one's dukes - definition and meaning
put up one's dukes love

put up one's dukes

Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb idiomatic To raise one's clenched fists in front of one's body and stand in a threatening or defiant manner, in preparation for a fistfight.
  • verb idiomatic, by extension To take firm action or to show oneself to be committed to such action, as when competing in a sporting event or other contest.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Possibly by analogy to a king or other ruler summoning his dukes, and by extension the duke's knights or other soldiers, to battle an enemy. Or possibly Cockney rhyming slang (see duke).

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word put up one's dukes.

Examples

    Sorry, no example sentences found.

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.