bowed up
Already mad and locked in — chest out, jaw set, not backing down.
Also called all bowed up.
Updated September 21, 2026
bowed up pronunciation
/BOWD up/
Meaning
The worked-up state after somebody bows up. You are not cooling off. You are bristled, offended, and ready to scrap or dig in. Southern talk piles on all for emphasis: all bowed up. Same family as the verb phrase bow up, just describing the mood once it has landed.
How folks use it
- “He got all bowed up when they moved his deer stand.”
- “She walked in bowed up and looking for a fight over that fence line.”
Origin and etymology
Past participle and adjective form of Southern bow up. Dictionary of American Regional English treats bow up as Southern for asserting yourself. Blind Pig and The Acorn readers use bowed up for fight-ready temper and for stubborn freeze-ups. The animal picture — back arched, feathers up — still sits under the phrase.
Frequently asked questions
Is bowed up different from bow up?
Same idea. Bow up is the action. Bowed up is how you look after you have already done it.