1 A2 neutral
To fasten your seatbelt before a journey in a car, plane, or other vehicle.
"Buckle up, everyone — we're about to take off."
buckle up
A2 neutral intransitive
To fasten your seatbelt; also used figuratively to mean prepare yourself for something difficult or exciting.
In plain English
To click your seatbelt on — or to get ready for something rough or exciting that is about to happen.
What does "buckle up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic informal
Used figuratively to tell someone to prepare themselves for something challenging, intense, or exciting.
"Buckle up — the next few months at this company are going to be wild."
“
Buckle up, buttercup.
— Popular American idiom/catchphrase, widely used in informal speech and internet culture.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To fasten the buckle of a seatbelt or harness.
Actually means
To click your seatbelt on — or to get ready for something rough or exciting that is about to happen.
Usage tip
'Buckle up for safety' is a well-known public safety slogan. The figurative use ('buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride') is very common in informal speech and headlines.
Words that pair with "buckle up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
seatbelt safety ride journey passengers kids
How to conjugate "buckle up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
buckle up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
buckles up
he/she/it
Past simple
buckled up
yesterday
Past participle
buckled up
have + pp
-ing form
buckling up
continuous
Hear "buckle up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "buckle up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "buckle up"
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Keep exploring
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