General
bronze up
What does bronze up mean?
Coating yourself head-to-toe in your own shit — usually in segregation — to make guards refuse to touch you during a cell extraction, search or transfer. A protest tactic of last resort, particularly associated with long-term solitary in the UK and Australian systems.
"He bronzed up before they came to move him, knew they'd have to suit up in PPE."
Origin
UK/Australian prison slang, the 'bronze' being a euphemism for the colour of the smear.
Frequently asked questions
What does bronze up mean?
It means to smear yourself in your own excrement, typically as a way to disrupt or resist staff in custody.
Is bronze up prison slang?
Yes — it's used in a custodial context to describe an inmate covering themselves in faeces to obstruct officers.
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