knuckle down
B1 informal inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To stop messing around and work really hard.
Literal meaning: In the game of marbles, 'knuckling down' meant placing your knuckle on the ground to shoot — implying serious, focused engagement.
Meanings
1 B1
idiomatic
informal
To start working hard and with full concentration, especially after delaying or being distracted.
"If you want to pass your exams, you're going to have to knuckle down and study."
"It's time to knuckle down and do the hard work."
— David Cameron, Conservative Party Conference speech, 2011
Grammar: inseparable
2 B1
idiomatic
informal
To apply serious effort to completing a specific difficult task.
"After months of procrastinating, she finally knuckled down to writing her thesis."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Very common in everyday British and Australian English. Often used as an encouragement or self-motivating statement. Frequently followed by 'and' + verb ('knuckle down and study') or 'to' + noun ('knuckle down to the task').
Commonly used with
study work task revision job training
Forms
Base
knuckle down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
knuckles down
he/she/it
Past simple
knuckled down
yesterday
Past participle
knuckled down
have + pp
-ing form
knuckling down
continuous
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