keyed up for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "keyed up for" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a state of heightened excitement or nervousness in anticipation of an event. Example: "She was keyed up for the big presentation." Alternative expressions include "excited about" and "anxious for."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Interest

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Two friendly bar staff seem more keyed up for Keno than vino.

The Guardian

"Listen, if you can't get excited and keyed up for a derby game you're in big trouble," Keane said.

The New York Times

"You try to get keyed up for certain things, try to turn it up a little bit.

The New York Times - Sports

With the designer Claire Choisne at the helm and a flagship newly opened in Hong Kong, the storied jeweler, in the PPR luxury group, is all keyed up for the Year of the Snake.

The New York Times

"I thought we all came out really hyped and a couple of kids were out of breath after about four minutes because they were so keyed up for the game, which is great to see," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Everyone knew exactly what was expected of them and we were all keyed up for the take when Gary's forlorn little voice was caught up by the wind and whipped across the choppy waters towards me.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

And like an entertainer keying himself up for a performance, he's all energy before a game, a drip when it's over.

Los Angeles Times

Ireland, robbed of playmaker Brian O'Driscoll in the first half, beat Romania 39-8 in a low-key warm-up for 2003 World Cup qualifiers.

The Guardian - Sport

Here, as the band plays a low-key warm-up for V2001, ticketless fans listen out in the street to the organ-driven grooves that have sound tracked their lives.

The Guardian

Cross Keys made up for the heartache of losing one final this season by beating Pontypridd to lift the Swalec Cup.

BBC

Fortunately, the large size of the keys makes up for it – after a few moments, we were blasting away like Mavis Beacon.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "keyed up for" when you want to emphasize a state of heightened anticipation or excitement, especially when someone has been preparing for something specific.

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "keyed up for" with "keyed in", which refers to entering data using a keyboard. The former describes a state of excitement, while the latter describes an action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "keyed up for" functions as a predicate adjective describing a state of heightened excitement or readiness. It's used to indicate that someone is particularly eager or anxious about an upcoming event or activity, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Sports

17%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "keyed up for" is a phrase used to describe a state of heightened excitement, readiness, or nervousness in anticipation of an event. Ludwig AI indicates it is grammatically correct and acceptable. While relatively informal, it appears across a variety of sources, especially News & Media and Sports, and as alternatives you can say "excited for", "eager for" or "geared up for". Remember to avoid confusing it with "keyed in", and consider the context to ensure it fits the overall tone of your writing. To ensure clear and impactful communication, use "keyed up for" when you want to highlight a state of heightened anticipation, particularly when someone is well-prepared and emotionally invested in an upcoming event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

excited for

Focuses on positive anticipation and eagerness.

eager for

Emphasizes enthusiasm and impatience for something to happen.

geared up for

Implies preparation and readiness, often for a specific task or event.

primed for

Indicates a state of being fully prepared and ready to perform.

enthusiastic about

Highlights a strong positive feeling and interest.

psyched for

Suggests a more informal and energetic state of excitement.

prepared for

Stresses readiness and anticipation of potential challenges.

anticipating

Focuses on the expectation of something happening.

anxious for

Can suggest excitement, but also a degree of worry or nervousness.

awaiting

Formally expresses waiting with expectation.

FAQs

What does "keyed up for" mean?

"Keyed up for" means being in a state of excitement, nervousness, or heightened anticipation about something that is going to happen.

What can I say instead of "keyed up for"?

You can use alternatives like "excited for", "eager for", or "geared up for" depending on the context.

Is "keyed up for" formal or informal?

"Keyed up for" is generally considered informal, though it can be used in some neutral contexts. More formal alternatives might be "anticipating" or "preparing for".

How to use "keyed up for" in a sentence?

You can use "keyed up for" to describe someone's emotional state before an event, for example: "The team was really "keyed up for" the championship game".