knuckle up
Ready for combat
Knuckle up means to prepare for a fight, literally or figuratively—raising fists with knuckles forward in a fighting stance.
The phrase suggests readiness to confront a challenge directly: When things got tough, she knuckled up and kept going.
In some contexts, it simply means to fight: They knuckled up in the parking lot.
- fistTightly closed hand
- clenchSqueeze tightly shut
- persevereContinue despite obstacles
- braceDevice providing structural stability
- hold your groundRefuse to retreat
punch · dig in · confront · fight back · steel · fortify · endure · tough it out · resolve · overcome · hand · spar · grit · grit your teeth · jab · throw hands · flex · brawl
resistance vs submission
knuckle upknuckle under
Yield after resistance
give in · surrender · submit · capitulate · yield