Hunting is an old tradition in the United States.During pioneer days,the wilderness was filled with bear,deer,buffalo and other animals.Hunting provided much of the meat that people ate.Hunting has also provided some colorful expressions to English as Americans speak it.One such expression is "loaded for bear".

　　In the early days,hunters used muzzle-loading rifles.They had to load such a gun from the front.They poured in gunpowder.Then,with a stick called a ramrod,they pushed a round bullet into the rifle,until it was against the gunpowder. 　　

　　The power of the gun depended on how much gunpowder the hunter put into it.The more powder,the stronger the gun would shoot. 　　

　　Bear hunters used as much gunpowder as possible.They wanted to kill the bear instantly, before it could kill them.They were "loaded for bear". 　　

　　The expression "loaded for bear"now means to be completely prepared for an event,just as an old bear hunter was completely prepared for meetint a bear.

　　狩猎是美国的一项古老传统。当年在开拓时期，荒野里有许多熊，鹿，野牛和其他野兽。狩猎是肉食的主要来源。狩猎也给美国人讲的英语增添了一些生动的词语。其中一个就是“装好打熊的弹药”。

　　早年猎人们用的是前镗装填弹药的步枪。他们得从枪口里装填弹药。他们先把火药倒进去，然后用一根叫做“通条”的棍子把一颗圆形子弹填进步枪里，把子弹紧紧地与火药捣实。

　　枪的威力取决于猎人填进多少火药。火药装得越多，步枪发射的力量便越大。

　　猎熊的人尽量多装火药。他们想一下子把熊打死，要不熊就有可能杀死猎人。于是他们“装好了打熊的弹药”。

　　如今这个词语意味着为应付某事而做好一切准备，就像当年猎熊的人为了对付熊做好了一切准备一样。