To start working seriously and with full focus on a task.
To stop messing around and start doing your work properly.
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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.
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."
To fasten a buckle tightly, securing yourself before hard physical effort.
To stop messing around and start doing your work properly.
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.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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