Saddling Up Meaning and Examples

"Saddling up" is a colloquial expression that means to prepare or get ready for a particular task or activity.

Literal meaning of "saddling up"

The term originates from the process of putting a saddle on a horse before riding, signifying the readiness to start a journey or undertake an endeavor. To "saddle up" literally means to put a saddle on a horse. In the context of horse riding, the meaning extends to getting on a horse and even riding the horse, not just fastening a saddle on one.

He saddled up and rode off.

Figurative or metaphoric meaning

The phrase "saddling up" does not just apply to riding horses. The phrase can be used to be "get ready to go," especially in situations where you are departing to go to a destination. In these cases, "saddling up" is used metaphorically to convey the idea of getting prepared or geared up for various activities and endeavors, often with a sense of anticipation and determination.

For instance, imagine a group of friends is about to embark on a long road trip, and they are getting their vehicle ready and packing their belongings. One friend might say, "Okay, everyone, we're saddling up for our cross-country adventure! Make sure we've got everything we need before we hit the road." This expresses that they are getting ready for the long journey ahead of them.

The use of "saddling up" over time

"Saddling up" and the root form "saddle up" both have seen an increase in use in recent decades, although the root form "saddle up" has experienced a more significant increase.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the earlier known use of the verb "saddle" is from the Old English period (pre-1150).

Example sentences

The team is saddling up for the big game, their excitement palpable.
With their backpacks and hiking boots, they were saddling up for a challenging mountain climb.
As the sun rose, the cowboys began saddling up their horses for a day of herding cattle.
Before the important meeting, she was calmly saddling up with her notes and presentation materials.
The crew members were busy saddling up the spacecraft for its mission to the moon.
The volunteers were saddling up to provide relief and assistance after the natural disaster.
The family was saddling up their bikes for a leisurely ride through the countryside.
The chef was expertly saddling up in the kitchen, preparing to create a culinary masterpiece.
With their camping gear in tow, they were excitedly saddling up for a weekend in the wilderness.
The team was saddling up for the charity walk, ready to raise funds for a good cause.

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