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Loaded for Bear
Loaded for Bear
Loaded for Bear : Phrases
Meaning:
To be aggressively seeking a confrontation; prepared for any contingency.
Example:
Presidential opponents are typically loaded for bear waiting for missteps in office. Bush provided many opportunities to load up.
Origin:
Old muskets were loaded by pouring gunpowder down the barrel, followed by the shot. The power of a given charge could be adjusted by adding more or less gunpowder.
When hunting large animals like bear, a large and powerful gunpowder charge would be loaded into the musket. Hence loaded for bear is to be hunting with a powerful charge ready.