1 C1 informal
To supply oneself or others with a large amount of ammunition before a fight or military operation.
"The soldiers ammo'd up before the patrol into enemy territory."
inseparable
ammo up
C1 informal inseparable intransitive
To stock up on ammunition, or figuratively to gather arguments, facts, or resources in preparation for a confrontation.
In plain English
Get a lot of bullets (or facts and arguments) ready before a fight.
What does "ammo up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic informal
To gather information, arguments, or resources in preparation for a confrontation, debate, or challenge.
"She ammo'd up with statistics and expert quotes before facing the press."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To fill up with ammunition (bullets, shells, etc.).
Actually means
Get a lot of bullets (or facts and arguments) ready before a fight.
Usage tip
Used both literally (military/gaming contexts) and figuratively (debates, arguments, legal battles). More common in American English. Primarily found in informal speech and online gaming communities.
Words that pair with "ammo up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
debate fight battle arguments facts weapons
How to conjugate "ammo up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
ammo up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
ammos up
he/she/it
Past simple
ammoed up
yesterday
Past participle
ammoed up
have + pp
-ing form
ammoing up
continuous
Hear "ammo up" in the wild
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Keep exploring
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