Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb idiomatic To raise one's
clenched fists in front of one's body and stand in athreatening ordefiant manner, in preparation for afistfight . - verb idiomatic, by extension To take
firm action or to show oneself to becommitted to such action, as whencompeting in asporting event or othercontest .
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Possibly by analogy to a king or other ruler summoning his dukes, and by extension the duke's knights or other soldiers, to battle an enemy. Or possibly Cockney rhyming slang (see duke).
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Examples
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