All bowed up

Meaning

Describes someone who is looking for a fight, acting aggressive, or feeling very defensive and angry. They are metaphorically puffed up like an animal ready to strike.

Tense, warning

Used in a sentence

• I walked in and he was already all bowed up over the schedule change.
• Don't go talking to him right now, he is all bowed up about the argument last night.
• She came home all bowed up because the neighbor criticized her parking.