1. Angry and, as a result, usually ready to fight or argue with someone. (The phrase originated in hunting.) That new job makes him miserable—he comes home every day loaded for bear.
2. Prepared to confront or handle a particular situation. After studying all night, I'm loaded for bear—bring on the exam!
3. Drunk. Do you remember last night at the bar at all? You were really loaded for bear!
1.Inf. angry. He left here in a rage. He was really loaded for bear.When I got home from work, I was really loaded for bear. What a horrible day!
2.Inf. drunk. (An elaboration of loaded, which means "drunk.") By the end of the party, Bill was loaded for bear.The whole gang drank for an hour until they were loaded for bear.
Fully prepared for action; also, spoiling for a fight. For example, Bill tackled his new sales route loaded for bear, or When Martin was three hours late, his wife was loaded for bear. This term, dating from the mid-1800s, alludes to the heavy charge of powder or lead that hunters use for large animals like a bear.
If you are loaded for bear, you are eager to start doing something difficult or to argue with someone. The president arrived at the meeting loaded for bear.We could go charging in there with guns and bullhorns, loaded for bear. Note: Someone who is loaded for bear has weapons which are powerful enough to kill a bear, even though they may be hunting smaller animals.
(American English) well prepared and ready to act in a determined or aggressive manner: The reporters at the press conference were loaded for bear. ♢ If you get to the finals against him you better come loaded for bear.This comes from hunting and refers to carrying the correct equipment, bullets, etc. to shoot a bear.
Ready to fight, up in arms. This term, from the mid-nineteenth century, alludes to the heavy ammunition needed to kill such a large animal. Max Shulman used it in Rally round the Flag Boys! (1957), “The O’Sheel woman is coming in loaded for bear this time.”
But, while political leaders have been loaded for bear when it comes to many industries, they have thus far been unable or unwilling to take aim at the impact of aviation.
We're getting our capacity increases out of the way at the end of January, end of February and the end of March so we'll be loaded for bear as the busy season builds.
In the days following Russia's incursion into Georgia, the Arizona senator made it clear that he's loaded for bear and just itching for a military confrontation in which to demonstrate again what a tough and angry man he is.
"It was a really hard-fought case, and I think they saw we were loaded for bear," Leonard Bellavia, an attorney representing the dealers, told Harrington.
Some are in great shape and some present huge problems that most operators would give up on -- that's not an option here and that's when great equipment and resourcefulness are vital, you have to go loaded for bear."
Given how Bush stole the election, Senate Democrats should be loaded for bear. But two key Democrats--Joseph Biden of Connecticut, who as chair of the Judiciary Committee bungled the opposition to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and the reliably faithless Robert Torricelli of New Jersey--have already hinted that they'll support Ashcroft.
You're loaded for bear on the munitions stores inventory, including five types of non-offensive equipment and 22 different weapons types, including the new Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW), Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), and Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM) ground weapons.
The bankers, obviously caught in the act (I'd seen several moving vans in the vicinity of Fort Adam's Mark, loaded for bear or for painting), backed away and mumbled something about loving art and not allowing it to leave St.
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