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Glite Dictionary
to buckle under

to buckle under

2 6.7
To give in to pressure even though you do not want to
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈbʌkəl ˈʌndər/
translation icon : ceder bajo
  • Good to see somebody who doesn't buckle under the pressure!
  • buckle under pressure
  • buckle under the strain
  • buckle under the weight

We are made them finally buckle under and pass that bill.

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Examples

  • Despite facing strong opposition, she refused to buckle under the pressure of her critics.

  • The team buckled under the pressure to win the championship after losing the last few games.

  • And you know, they buckled under public pressure.

    Rob Moore

  • But one girl did not buckle under that pressure.

    Midnight in a Toy Shop (1930)

  • He'll buckle under a little pressure.

    Blue Collar (1978)

  • I thought you'd finally buckle under.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • I'm supposed to keep an eye on you CTs, make sure you don't buckle under the pressure.

    Snowden (2016)

  • Many employees felt they had to buckle under the pressure from their boss to meet unrealistic deadlines.

Synonyms

to give
vsto buckle under
∞ 3.5

To stop being strong and bend or break under pressure

emphasizes reluctant agreement caused by pressure rather than simple bending or collapse
to give in
vsto buckle under
220 3.0

To stop resisting and agree to what others want

agrees reluctantly especially because of pressure or force rather than choice
to bow
vsto buckle under
127 6.3

To give in to another person's wishes or demands

focuses on reluctant agreement caused by pressure or force rather than personal submission
to yield
vsto buckle under
81 4.3

To stop resisting under pressure or force

adds that the surrender is a reluctant agreement rather than any surrender
to cave
vsto buckle under
  • Informal
71 6.7

To give in to pressure or demands

is similar but framed as a reluctant agreement under pressure
to succumb to
vsto buckle under
69 5.8

Fail to resist a strong feeling or pressure and give in

refers to reluctant agreement mainly due to pressure or force, not temptation
to give way
vsto buckle under
35 4.2

Break or fail because of pressure

means reluctant agreement under pressure rather than physical or systemic collapse
to relent
vsto buckle under
31 5.8

To stop resisting and allow something to happen, like a person giving in or a storm easing

describes reluctant agreement that often happens specifically because of pressure
to capitulate
vsto buckle under
23 8.4

To stop fighting back and accept defeat or demands

means reluctant yielding but lacks the formal surrender or negotiated terms
to cave in
vsto buckle under
  • Informal
21 4.8

Give in to pressure or strong requests after resisting

yields reluctantly under pressure but stresses an agreement rather than collapse
to acquiesce
vsto buckle under
  • Formal
20 8.4

To accept something you do not want without complaining

is similar but emphasizes agreement specifically caused by pressure or force
to cave to
vsto buckle under
  • Informal
5 7.6

To give in to pressure or demands from others

stresses reluctant agreement specifically as a response to pressure or force
to knuckle under
vsto buckle under
  • Informal
4 8.4

To give in to pressure or someone in charge even if you do not want to

focuses on reluctant agreement often caused by external pressure rather than authority
to buckle to
vsto buckle under
2 8.4

To give in to pressure or criticism

describes reluctant agreement in general, not only to criticism
to yield up
vsto buckle under
1 7.4

Give something to another person because you are forced to do so

refers to agreeing or yielding reluctantly, not only handing over something
to bend to someone's will
vsto buckle under
7.1

To do what someone else wants even if you do not want to

highlights reluctant agreement under pressure rather than yielding to someone's control
to fold like a cheap suit
vsto buckle under
  • Informal
9.6

To give in easily when under pressure

implies reluctant agreement but does not suggest quick or humiliating collapse

Antonyms

to defy
178 3.7

Openly refuse to obey someone or seem to resist a force like time

to refuse
4 9.2

To be hard to explain or understand

How Yielding

to collapse
579 3.9
to buckle under
2 6.7
to relent
31 5.8
to resist
311 2.2
to stand firm
22 3.7

Surface Forms

buckle under infinitive
buckled under past
buckled under past participle
buckling under present participle
buckles under third person singular

Morphology

buckle + under

The meaning is a straightforward metaphorical extension of the literal sense: 'buckle' (to bend/collapse from pressure) + 'under' (subject to) yields 'to give way or yield under pressure.' This physical-to-figurative mapping is transparent and intuitive, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should be able to infer the meaning without prior exposure.

Etymology

Buckle under may come from the picture of a metal buckle that bends when it is put under too much weight. If the buckle bends 'under' pressure and 'gives in', that's why the phrase means 'to give in' or 'agree even when you don't want to'.