pump iron en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
-
To lift weights; to engage in weight or strength training.
Her upper body strength has been improving since she started pumping iron at the gym.
Early strongmen like Eugen Sandow (the model for the Mr. Olympia trophy) and late-1800s "Iron-Master" Arthur Saxon (who wrote the book on one-hand overhead moves) kicked off the first movement of guys pumping iron.
2026, Greg Presto, “Timeless Gains”, in Men's Health, volume 41, number 2, page 14:For years now, Arnold Schwarzenegger has made the talk-show rounds telling audiences that pumping iron is better than sex. No wonder it took him so long to find a bride.
1987 September, Robert McKay, “The National Standard”, in Cincinnati Magazine, page 104:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| pumped iron | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| pumped iron | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| pumping iron | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| pumps iron | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic |
Translations (11)
fi pumpata rautaa (to engage in weight training) · pl pompować (to engage in weight training) · sv lyfta skrot (to engage in weight training) · es levantar pesas (to engage in weight training) · bg помпам (to engage in weight training) · es practicar culturismo (to engage in weight training) · pt puxar ferro (to engage in weight training) · cmn 舉鐵 /举铁 (to engage in weight training) · pl pakować (to engage in weight training) · es culturizar (to engage in weight training) · cmn 擼鐵 /撸铁 (to engage in weight training)