Question 1

What does "duke up" mean?

Accepted Answer

(Very informal, rare) To raise one's fists in preparation for a fight.

Question 2

How do you use "duke up" in a sentence?

Accepted Answer

He duked up as soon as the other man stepped toward him.

Question 3

Is "duke up" formal or informal?

Accepted Answer

"duke up" is register-neutral — appropriate in both casual and formal contexts. 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.

duke up

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