duke up
C1 slang inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To put your fists up, ready to start a fight.
Literal meaning: 'Dukes' is slang for fists — 'duke up' would mean raising your fists.
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
slang
(Very informal, rare) To raise one's fists in preparation for a fight.
"He duked up as soon as the other man stepped toward him."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
This phrase is not established in standard dictionaries. It appears very occasionally in highly informal American speech as a variant of 'put up your dukes'. ESL learners should treat it as recognition-only vocabulary. 'Square up' or 'put up your fists' are the recommended alternatives.
Commonly used with
fight fists opponent
Forms
Base
duke up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
dukes up
he/she/it
Past simple
duked up
yesterday
Past participle
duked up
have + pp
-ing form
duking up
continuous
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