locked and loaded
Americanadjective
-
(of a firearm) loaded with ammunition and prepared for firing.
They checked their equipment and found the rifles locked and loaded.
-
ready for action.
After so much practice, her throwing arm was locked and loaded for the match.
Etymology
Origin of locked and loaded
First recorded in 1790–1800 as lock and load, used in the U.S. Army's 23-5 Basic Field manual: U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1 (1940), and popularized by John Wayne in the film Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Once Sisley was five years or seven years old, and you were locked and loaded, what did you see as your comparative advantage?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
The US was, the president said, "locked and loaded and ready to go".
From BBC ● Jan. 13, 2026
"We are locked and loaded and ready to go," he added.
From Barron's ● Jan. 2, 2026
I always appreciate it when the Oscars happen in middle of Girl Scout cookie season, so yes, locked and loaded for steady Thin Mint consumption.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 2, 2025
He locked and loaded a double-barrel paint gun and blasted an enemy hellhound bright pink.
From "The Last Olympian" by Rick Riordan
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
