put up one's dukes

Meaning: (idiomatic)Toraiseone'sclenchedfistsin front ofone'sbodyandstandin athreateningordefiantmanner, inpreparationfor afistfight.1886, Edward Money,The Truth about America‎[1], page206:The proceedings of the State Democratic Convention, held at Turner Hall, yesterday, were disgraceful enough to bring a blush even to the cheek of a Democrat. "Liar," "snide," "put up your dukes, if you want to fight," catcalls, hooting, and yelling filled up a greater part of the deliberations of the august body.; (idiomatic,by extension)To takefirmactionor toshowoneself to becommittedto such action, as whencompetingin asportingeventor othercontest.1980,Eddie Schwartz, “Hit Me with Your Best Shot”, inCrimes of Passion‎[2], performed byPat Benatar:Well you're a real tough cookie with a long historyOf breaking little hearts like the one in meThat's okay, let's see how you do itPut up your dukesand let's get down to it2008,Jonathan Schaeffer,One Jump Ahead: Computer perfection at checkers‎[3],→ISBN, page401:The NBC reporter who came to the match on Wednesday told Lafferty "Come on,put up your dukes, we want to see some blood."

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