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."
inseparable
duke up
C1 slang inseparable intransitive
An extremely rare and non-standard expression meaning to raise one's fists ready to fight.
In plain English
To put your fists up, ready to start a fight.
What does "duke up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
'Dukes' is slang for fists — 'duke up' would mean raising your fists.
Actually means
To put your fists up, ready to start a fight.
Usage tip
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.
Words that pair with "duke up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
fight fists opponent
How to conjugate "duke up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "duke up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "duke up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.