go equipped

verb

To carry tools, weapons or other articles with the intent of using them to commit a crime.

Meanings

verbgo equipped (third-person singular simple present goes equipped, present participle going equipped, simple past went equipped, past participle gone equipped)

present singular third person goes equipped · participle present going equipped · past went equipped · participle past gone equipped

  1. UKintransitivegovernmentTo carry tools, weapons or other articles with the intent of using them to commit a crime.

    All had admitted conspiracy to burgle and Talbot also admitted going equipped to burgle and Eldred a breach of a conditional discharge.

    2017 February 8, Ian Proctor, “JAILED: Burglars who went equipped with tools, disguises and homemade swag bags”, in The Lancashire Telegraph
    3 more examples

    Would I go equipped? You can get a stiff sentence for that! I've got a couple of skeleton keys, I don't deny, but I hope we won't need them. There are other ways.

    1997, Claire Rayner, Fifth Member (George Barnabas; 4)

    They were allegedly carrying cable cutters and a hammer when they were arrested and could face up to 10 years in prison if deemed to have "gone equipped" to commit an offence at the base.

    2006 June 1, “Base trespass suspects rearrested”, in BBC News

    A Scotland Yard spokesman said three arrests were for public order offences, one was for possession of an offensive weapon, three were for going equipped and 12 breaches of the peace.

    2011 November 9, “Thousands march in student fees protest”, in The Independent

Origin

From the heading of section 25 of the Theft Act 1968: "Going equipped for stealing, etc."

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

go equipped. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20equipped

MLA

“go equipped.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20equipped. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “go equipped,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/go%20equipped.

Source: go equipped on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.