to buck

Examples

• All

• Devo, if you are bucking for a cabinet post in the new Dumb-O regime, you might not want to quit your day job just yet.

  Blog text (33)

• But I bucked up and I feel much better now. :)

  Blog text (20)

• I now realize I need to buck up and quit complaining.

  Blog text (26)

• I knew you were bucking for something.

  All the Young Men (1960)

• You know that and I know that, but... somebody's bucking for a promotion.

  Fletch (1985)

• Looks like you're bucking for archbishop.

  Patton (1970)

• Don't let him fool you, he's bucking for sainthood.

  Cutter's Way (1981)

• If you want to be promoted, you need to buck up and show more initiative.

• She is really bucking for a better position in the company by taking on extra projects.

• After impressing the manager with his performance, he began bucking for a leadership role.

Synonyms

B

to buck for

vsto buck

• Archaic

9 8.2

To try hard to get praise or a promotion from someone like a boss

focuses on determined effort to advance without needing authority approval

B

to bucking for a promotion

vsto buck

• Informal

1 6.2

To try hard to get a higher job at work

is broader meaning determined effort to advance in rank or position

Antonyms

R

to relinquish

• Formal

69 7.2

To give up control, a right, or something you own

Idioms

B

bang for the buck

• US

7 4.4

A good value for the money you spend

S

to save a buck

• Informal

2 6.4

Spend less money than usual when you buy something

B

to break the buck

• Literature

9.8

A money market fund's share price falls below one dollar

B

breaking the buck

• US

9.9

A loss for investors that happens when a money market fund's share falls below one dollar

B

to buck up your ideas

• UK

9.2

Try harder and make your work and attitude better

Phrasal Verbs

B

to buck up

• Informal

14 6.3

To become or make someone more cheerful and confident

B

to buck for

• Archaic

9 8.2

To try hard to get praise or a promotion from someone like a boss

B

to buck the trend

3 6.9

To do something different from what most people do

Compounds

Y

young buck

• Slang

9 7.9

A young man who is full of energy and wants to prove himself

Q

quick buck

• Informal

9 5.3

Money made quickly, often with little work or by dishonest ways

F

fast buck

• Slang

3 7.9

Money earned quickly, often by dishonest or easy ways

B

buck private

• Archaic

1 8.2

A soldier with the lowest rank in the US Army or Marines

B

buck sergeant

• Archaic

1 8.2

A low-ranking soldier who leads a small group in the army or Marines

B

buck-and-wing

• Archaic

1 9.9

A lively solo tap dance with fast, energetic footwork

B

buck-passing

1 7.1

Act of putting blame on others to avoid doing a job you should do

B

black buck

• Indian

8.7

An antelope with a dark back and spiral horns that lives in India

B

buck fever

• Jargon

9.6

A nervous feeling a beginner hunter has when they see an animal

B

buck-passing culture

7.9

A workplace culture where people avoid responsibility by blaming others

How Ambitious

to campaign

344 3.9

to buck

• Informal

5 5.9

to strive

156 3.7

to vie

50 6.2

to seek

∞ 1.0

to try

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology