to buckle down
11
4.4
- phrasal verb
- /ˈbʌkəl daʊn/
- Informal
:
ponerse a trabajar
- As the deadline approached, she knew it was time to buckle down and focus on her project.
- buckle down to work
- buckle down and study
- time to buckle down
And I needed to buckle down, make my own content.
- And I needed to buckle down, make my own content.
- He decides that he really wants to buckle down and start studying.
- That was the very beginning of me really like buckling down and learning.
- And sometimes that that requires buckling down and, and denying the money or the, the quick money.
- But if it works, I'm going to know very quickly and I will buckle down and really get it done.
- You have to believe when you can't, when you don't see no way how you have to buckle down and keep believing.
- You know, and you know, just kind of buckling down, hammering down, doing it that game.
Examples
-
You are bound to win if you will only buckle down.
-
"You still have to buckle down and earn it," she said.
Fiction book (1994) -
And I just thought my job was to buckle down and be serious.
-
And I needed to buckle down, make my own content.
-
It's time to buckle down, open your computer and check your phone.
-
That was the very beginning of me really like buckling down and learning.
-
I promise you, I am going to buckle down.
-
It's hard to stay away, but it's also hard to actually buckle down and do it.
Blog text (34) -
Instead of complaining and blaming everyone else for his problems, he buckled down and made it happen.
Blog text (19) -
But now it's time to buckle down and start student teaching (YAY) and finish my last class.
Blog text (33)
Synonyms
12
5.8
Start working quickly and with energy
4
4.5
To start working hard after not doing much before
2
7.5
To start working very hard to reach a goal
To start working quickly and seriously
To start working well and fast after a slow time
To begin working very hard and not give up on a difficult task
Try harder and make your work and attitude better
Get ready to act with energy and strong focus
To work very hard at something until you are very tired
Antonyms
How Hard
- Informal
4
4.3
- Informal
11
4.4
- Informal
231
2.0
113
2.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
buckle + down
The idea of 'getting serious' is partly suggested by 'buckle' (to fasten/tighten or figuratively brace) combined with 'down' (a completive/intensifying particle), so there is a detectable metaphor of tightening oneself to a task. However, the specific sense 'to start working hard/apply oneself' is not fully predictable from the literal meanings and would often require prior exposure, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The phrasal verb buckle down may come from the picture of fastening a buckle tight and leaning down to get on with hard work. So it now means 'to start working hard and seriously on something'.