puts up one's dukes

A form of put up one's dukes — To raise one's clenched fists in front of one's body and stand in a threatening or defiant manner, in preparation for a fistfight.

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Meanings

verb
  1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of put up one's dukes
Cite this entry
APA

puts up one's dukes. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/puts%20up%20one's%20dukes

MLA

“puts up one's dukes.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/puts%20up%20one's%20dukes. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “puts up one's dukes,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/puts%20up%20one's%20dukes.

Source: puts up one's dukes on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.