1 B2 informal
(Sport, especially cricket) To put on protective leg pads in preparation for batting or playing.
"The next two batters were told to pad up and be ready to go in at any moment."
inseparable
pad up
B2 informal inseparable intransitive
To put on protective padding, especially before playing cricket or a contact sport.
In plain English
Put on the protective pads you wear in sports like cricket or American football.
What does "pad up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To strap pads up onto your body — transparent.
Actually means
Put on the protective pads you wear in sports like cricket or American football.
Usage tip
Predominantly used in British English in the context of cricket, where batters wear leg pads. Can be used for other padded sports (American football, ice hockey). Also (rare) means to fill a space with padding material.
Words that pair with "pad up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
batter wicketkeeper cricketer player next ready
How to conjugate "pad up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
pad up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pads up
he/she/it
Past simple
paded up
yesterday
Past participle
paded up
have + pp
-ing form
pading up
continuous
Hear "pad up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "pad up"
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