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loaded for bear

 [bair]   Origin

bear

2   [bair] noun, plural bears, (especially collectively) bear, adjective, verb, beared, bear·ing.
noun
1.
any of the plantigrade, carnivorous or omnivorous mammals of the family Ursidae, having massive bodies, coarse heavy fur, relatively short limbs, and almost rudimentary tails.
2.
any of various animals resembling the bear, as the ant bear.
3.
a gruff, burly, clumsy, bad-mannered, or rude person.
4.
a person who believes that market prices, especially of stocks, will decline (opposed to bull).
5.
Informal. a person who shows great ability, enthusiasm, stamina, etc.: a bear for physics.
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6.
(initial capital letter) Astronomy. either of two constellations, Ursa Major or Ursa Minor.
7.
Informal. a player at cards who rarely bluffs.
8.
(initial capital letter) Russia.
COLLAPSE
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adjective
9.
having to do with or marked by declining prices, as of stocks: bear market.

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Loaded for bear is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
verb (used with object)
10.
Stock Exchange. to force prices down in (a market, stock, etc.).
Idiom
11.
loaded for bear, Informal. fully prepared and eager to initiate or deal with a fight, confrontation, or trouble: Keep away from the boss—he's loaded for bear today.
Origin:
before 1000; Middle English be(a)re, beor(e), Old English bera; cognate with Frisian bār, Dutch beer, Old High German bero (German Bär); < Germanic *beran- literally, the brown one; akin to Old Norse bjǫrn, bersi; compare Lithuanian bė́ras brown. Compare bruin

Related forms
bear·like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To loaded for bear
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

bear
O.E. bera "bear," from P.Gmc. *beron "the brown one" (cf. O.N. björn, Ger. Bär), from PIE *bher- (3) "bright, brown" (see brown). Greek arktos and Latin ursus retain the PIE root word for "bear" (*rtko), but it is believed to have been ritually replaced in the northern
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branches because of hunters' taboo on names of wild animals (cf. the Ir. equivalent "the good calf," Welsh "honey-pig," Lith. "the licker," Rus. medved "honey-eater"). Others connect the Germanic word with Latin ferus "wild," as if it meant "the wild animal (par excellence) of the northern woods." Symbolic of Russia since 1794. Used of uncouth persons since 1570s. Meaning "speculator for a fall" is 1709 shortening of bearskin jobber (from the proverb sell the bearskin before one has caught the bear); i.e. "one who sells stock for future delivery, expecting that meanwhile prices will fall." Paired with bull from c.1720.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Slang Dictionary

bear definition


  1. n.
    a difficult task. : This problem is a real bear.
  2. n.
    an ugly woman. (Derogatory.) : Tell the old bear to hold her tongue.
  3. n.
    a highway patrol officer. (See also Smokey (the Bear).) : There's a bear hiding under that bridge.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source

loaded for bear definition


  1. mod.
    alcohol intoxicated. : He's been drinking mule since dawn, and he's loaded for bear.
  2. mod.
    ready for the hardest problems. : I'm loaded for bear, and that's good because this is going to be a rough day.
  3. mod.
    very angry. : I had been loaded for bear when I came into the room, and I left as meek as a lamb.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

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.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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