loaded for bear

phrase

US, informal
: prepared to deal with attacks or criticism : prepared to fight or argue
She went into the interview loaded for bear.

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loaded dice
loaded for bear
loaded line
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Cite this Entry

“Loaded for bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loaded%20for%20bear. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.

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