To begin working hard and seriously, especially after a period of distraction or laziness.
To stop messing around and work really hard.
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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
To apply serious effort to completing a specific difficult task.
"After months of procrastinating, she finally knuckled down to writing her thesis."
In the game of marbles, 'knuckling down' meant placing your knuckle on the ground to shoot — implying serious, focused engagement.
To stop messing around and work really hard.
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').
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "knuckle down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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