1 C1 idiomatic informal
To face a difficult situation with courage and without complaint.
"Stop moaning — neck up and get on with it."
neck up
C1 informal intransitive
Informal British expression meaning to be brave, endure something difficult, or stop complaining.
In plain English
To be brave and deal with something hard without complaining.
What does "neck up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Dated British informal usage. Less common today than alternatives like 'man up' or 'toughen up'. Used as an imperative. Non-native learners are unlikely to encounter this unless reading older British texts.
How to conjugate "neck up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
neck up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
necks up
he/she/it
Past simple
necked up
yesterday
Past participle
necked up
have + pp
-ing form
necking up
continuous
Hear "neck up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "neck up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "neck up"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.