buck up
B2 informal separable both
In simple words
To feel better and be more positive — or to tell someone to stop being sad or lazy and try harder.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
informal
To become or make someone become more cheerful, positive, or courageous.
"The team's victory really bucked us all up after a difficult week."
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
To make more effort or move faster; used as an imperative urging someone to hurry or improve.
"Buck up, will you? We're going to be late!"
3 B2
idiomatic
informal
To improve the quality of one's work, attitude, or behavior.
"If he doesn't buck his ideas up, he's going to lose that job."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Chiefly British English. Can be used as an imperative ('Buck up!') or transitively ('That news bucked me up'). Also used to mean hurrying up in British slang.
Commonly used with
spirits courage mood ideas performance effort
Forms
Base
buck up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bucks up
he/she/it
Past simple
bucked up
yesterday
Past participle
bucked up
have + pp
-ing form
bucking up
continuous
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Synonyms
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