locked and loaded

[ lokt uhn loh-did ]

adjective

1. (of a firearm) loaded with ammunition and prepared for firing:

   They checked their equipment and found the rifles locked and loaded.

2. ready for action:

   After so much practice, her throwing arm was locked and loaded for the match.

Word History and Origins

Origin of locked and loaded¹

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

Conservatives reacted with outrage to what some have called an assassination attempt, with Trump writing in a campaign email, “Joe Biden was locked and loaded ready to take me out and put my family in danger.”

From New York Times

“He’s a guy, even when, whether Jamal is up and ready to go or not, we always keep Devin available to us so he’s locked and loaded for that. He’ll be another option for us to have ready.”

From Seattle Times

And as the temperance movement began picking up steam and local counties started going dry, Martinelli's had their alternative locked and loaded when the 18th Amendment passed.

From Salon

Chandler, though, stands out as the one who strolls into every situation with a flawlessly quotable sardonic reaction locked and loaded.

From Salon

It seemed as if Eagle had the clever reference to Swift’s “Blank Space” locked and loaded for the perfect moment, and fans were eating it up on social media.

From Los Angeles Times