buckle down
B1 informal intransitive
In simple words
To stop messing around and start doing your work properly.
Literal meaning: To fasten a buckle tightly, securing yourself before hard physical effort.
Meanings
1 B1
idiomatic
informal
To begin focusing seriously on a task that requires sustained effort.
"You need to buckle down and study if you want to pass these exams."
"It's time to stop complaining and buckle down."
— Common idiomatic usage; widely attributed in general American English discourse.
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
To commit to a difficult or unpleasant situation and deal with it with determination.
"The team knew it was behind on the project, so they all buckled down for the final sprint."
Usage notes
Very common in everyday and educational contexts. Often used as an encouragement or mild command. The image is of fastening a belt or harness before tackling something demanding.
Commonly used with
work studying task job revision project
Forms
Base
buckle down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
buckles down
he/she/it
Past simple
buckled down
yesterday
Past participle
buckled down
have + pp
-ing form
buckling down
continuous
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Synonyms
knuckle down get down to work apply yourself get serious hunker down put your nose to the grindstone
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