kit up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kit up" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in informal contexts, especially in military or outdoor settings, to mean preparing or equipping oneself with necessary gear or equipment. Example: "Before we head out on the hike, make sure to kit up with all the essentials like water, snacks, and a first aid kit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

And you had to pay for your kit up front". At her second club, Arsenal, she took a part-time job in the stadium laundrette.

The Guardian - Sport

Muddy Puddles base layers and snow boots, £10 and £21 (on sale) muddypuddles.com You could kit up your kids with absolutely everything they need for the slopes from Muddy Puddles, from ski mitts to socks via boots and base layers.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Baseball uniforms were made for the few men on Earth who look like Ortiz, and he spiced his kit up with colorful batting gloves and sunglasses, and the sparkles from chunks of bling in his ears and around his neck.

The New Yorker

Prince William broadcast a message, saying, "We're thinking of you at the Christmas period as you're lugging all your kit up and down the slopes and the hills of the southern Atlantic in the Antarctic".

The New Yorker

We kit up in hazmat suits, shoe covers, hair- and beardnets (the site has to follow safety rules drawn up for opioid factories) before we enter the grow room.

The Guardian

America's Boeing McDonnell Douglas, which supplies the avionics for a Czech light jet, is fighting for a $200m contract to kit up a Polish military helicopter with similar avionics.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Keep your kit up-to-date.

WikiHow

EBay usually has several Pocher kits up for bid.

The New York Times

Kitted up and with a few practice falls behind us, we moved on to basic posture.

The Guardian - Travel

In the park, in the dark, we got kitted up in silence.

The Guardian - Books

And yes, this is Fábio Coentrão taking up his place on the bench, kitted up and ready to go.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kit up" when you specifically mean equipping someone with the necessary gear for an activity, especially in contexts like sports, military, or outdoor adventures.

Common error

Avoid using "kit up" when a simpler term like "prepare" or "get ready" suffices. "Kit up" suggests a specific process of equipping with gear, not just general preparation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kit up" functions primarily as an intransitive phrasal verb. It describes the action of equipping oneself with the necessary items, as seen in the examples Ludwig provides, where individuals "kit up" in hazmat suits or for skiing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Lifestyle

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "kit up" means to equip oneself with necessary gear, often for a specific activity like sports, military operations, or outdoor adventures. As Ludwig highlights, it's considered grammatically correct, although relatively uncommon compared to alternatives like "gear up". While generally informal, "kit up" appears in news contexts to describe equipping oneself, and usage often implies readiness for action. Remember to use it when referring to a specific equipping process, and less when a simpler preparation term suffices.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get kitted out

A more British English variant of the original phrase, with similar meaning.

gear up

Focuses on readiness and preparation, often for a specific task or activity.

equip oneself

Focuses specifically on providing oneself with necessary items.

outfit oneself

Implies providing oneself with a complete set of clothing or equipment.

get equipped

Emphasizes the acquisition of necessary equipment.

suit up

Implies wearing a specific type of clothing or gear, often for protection or a specific role.

prepare oneself

A more general term that can include mental and physical preparation, not just equipment.

get ready

Similar to "prepare oneself" but often implies a shorter timeframe.

load up

Implies filling something with equipment or supplies.

stock up

Focuses on accumulating a supply of something.

FAQs

What does "kit up" mean?

"Kit up" means to equip oneself with the necessary gear or equipment for a particular activity or purpose, often in a sporting, military, or outdoor context.

What can I say instead of "kit up"?

You can use alternatives like "gear up", "get equipped", or "outfit oneself" depending on the context.

Is "kit up" formal or informal?

"Kit up" is generally considered informal. For more formal situations, consider using phrases like "equip oneself" or "prepare the equipment".

How to use "kit up" in a sentence?

Example: "Before the hike, we need to "gear up" with our backpacks, water bottles, and hiking boots."