buck

[ buhk ]

/ bʌk /

verb (used without object)

(of a saddle or pack animal) to leap with arched back and come down with head low and forelegs stiff, in order to dislodge a rider or pack.

Informal. to resist or oppose obstinately; object strongly: The mayor bucked at the school board's suggestion.

(of a vehicle, motor, or the like) to operate unevenly; move by jerks and bounces.

verb (used with object)

to throw or attempt to throw (a rider or pack) by bucking.

to force a way through or proceed against (an obstacle): The plane bucked a strong headwind.

to strike with the head; butt.

to resist or oppose obstinately; object strongly to.

Football. (of a ball-carrier) to charge into (the opponent's line).

to gamble, play, or take a risk against: He was bucking the odds when he bought that failing business.

to press a reinforcing device against (the force of a rivet) in order to absorb vibration and increase expansion.

noun

an act of bucking.

Verb Phrases

buck for, to strive for a promotion or some other advantage: to buck for a raise.

buck up, to make or become more cheerful, vigorous, etc.: She knew that with a change of scene she would soon buck up.

Origin of buck

1855–60; verbal use of buck¹, influenced in some senses by buck³

Words nearby buck

buchman, buchmanism, buchner, buchner funnel, buchu, buck, buck and wing, buck bean, buck fever, buck for, buck moth

British Dictionary definitions for buck up (1 of 6)

buck up

verb (adverb) informal

to make or cause to make haste

to make or become more cheerful, confident, etc

British Dictionary definitions for buck up (2 of 6)

buck ¹

/ (bʌk) /

noun

the male of various animals including the goat, hare, kangaroo, rabbit, and reindeer
(as modifier)a buck antelope

Southern African an antelope or deer of either sex

US informal a young man

archaic a robust spirited young man

archaic a dandy; fop

the act of bucking

verb

(intr) (of a horse or other animal) to jump vertically, with legs stiff and back arched

(tr) (of a horse, etc) to throw (its rider) by bucking

(when intr , often foll by against) informal, mainly US and Canadian to resist or oppose obstinately to buck against change; to buck change

(tr; usually passive) informal to cheer or encourage I was very bucked at passing the exam

US and Canadian informal (esp of a car) to move forward jerkily; jolt

US and Canadian to charge against (something) with the head down; butt

Derived forms of buck

bucker, noun

Word Origin for buck

Old English bucca he-goat; related to Old Norse bukkr, Old High German bock, Old Irish bocc

British Dictionary definitions for buck up (3 of 6)

buck ²

/ (bʌk) /

noun

US, Canadian and Australian informal a dollar

Southern African informal a rand

a fast buck easily gained money

bang for one's buck See bang 1 (def. 15)

Word Origin for buck

C19: of obscure origin

British Dictionary definitions for buck up (4 of 6)

buck ³

/ (bʌk) /

noun

gymnastics a type of vaulting horse

US and Canadian a stand for timber during sawing Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): sawhorse

verb

(tr) US and Canadian to cut (a felled or fallen tree) into lengths

Word Origin for buck

C19: short for sawbuck

British Dictionary definitions for buck up (5 of 6)

buck ⁴

/ (bʌk) /

noun

poker a marker in the jackpot to remind the winner of some obligation when his turn comes to deal

pass the buck informal to shift blame or responsibility onto another

the buck stops here informal the ultimate responsibility lies here

Word Origin for buck

C19: probably from buckhorn knife, placed before a player in poker to indicate that he was the next dealer

British Dictionary definitions for buck up (6 of 6)

Buck

/ (bʌk) /

noun

Pearl S (ydenstricker). 1892–1973, US novelist, noted particularly for her novel of Chinese life The Good Earth (1931): Nobel prize for literature 1938

Idioms and Phrases with buck up (1 of 2)

buck up

Cheer up, become encouraged, as in Buck up! We'll soon have it done, or Even the promise of a vacation did not buck her up. This term was first recorded in 1844.

Idioms and Phrases with buck up (2 of 2)

buck

In addition to the idioms beginning with buck

buck for
buckle down
buckle under
buckle up
buck stops here, the
buck up

also see:

big bucks
fast buck
more bang for the buck
pass the buck

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

buck

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of buck

Words nearby buck

British Dictionary definitions for buck up (1 of 6)

verb (adverb) informal

British Dictionary definitions for buck up (2 of 6)

noun

verb

Derived forms of buck

Word Origin for buck

British Dictionary definitions for buck up (3 of 6)

noun

Word Origin for buck

British Dictionary definitions for buck up (4 of 6)

noun

verb

Word Origin for buck

British Dictionary definitions for buck up (5 of 6)

noun

Word Origin for buck

British Dictionary definitions for buck up (6 of 6)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with buck up (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with buck up (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

buck

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of buck

Words nearby buck

Words related to buck up

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for buck up (1 of 6)

verb (adverb) informal

British Dictionary definitions for buck up (2 of 6)

noun

verb

Derived forms of buck

Word Origin for buck

British Dictionary definitions for buck up (3 of 6)

noun

Word Origin for buck

British Dictionary definitions for buck up (4 of 6)

noun

verb

Word Origin for buck

British Dictionary definitions for buck up (5 of 6)

noun

Word Origin for buck

British Dictionary definitions for buck up (6 of 6)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with buck up (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with buck up (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for buck up (1 of 6)