Pump
The temporary swollen, tight feeling when blood floods a muscle during a workout.
Definitions
Used as slang for energy or hype more broadly.
As a verb, 'pump' or 'pump up' means to do a workout that fills the muscle.
The full, swollen sensation in a muscle from blood rushing in during high-rep training. It makes you look bigger temporarily.
Pump In A Sentence
Origin & Usage
Bodybuilding term popularized hugely by Arnold Schwarzenegger, who in the 1977 film Pumping Iron famously compared 'the pump' to other pleasures. It's been core gym vocabulary ever since.
People Also Ask
What does pump mean in the gym?
A pump is the temporary swollen, tight feeling a muscle gets when blood floods into it during a workout, making it look bigger for a while.
Is the pump permanent?
No. A pump fades within an hour or so after training. It's a temporary effect, not actual muscle growth.
Who made 'the pump' famous?
Arnold Schwarzenegger popularized it in the 1977 documentary Pumping Iron with his memorable description of how good the pump feels.
What is a 'pump chaser'?
A pump chaser is someone who trains mainly for that swollen feeling and look, often doing high reps, rather than focusing on heavy strength.
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