English Reference
Idiom idiom

buck up


Cheer up; take courage; take heart.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

You should buck up and try again.

CONTEXTUAL

I know you are disappointed about the test, but you need to buck up and focus on the next one.

COMPLEX

Though the situation seemed dire, he urged his team to buck up and face the coming challenges with renewed resolve.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bang for the buck

    Efficiency; cost-effectiveness; value.

  2. 02

    big bucks

    Lots of money.

  3. 03

    break the buck

    To fall below the value of one dollar per share.

  4. 04

    buck fever

    Excitement and nervousness felt by a new hunter upon seeing game.

  5. 05

    buck for

    To strive for persistently; to try hard to obtain (a promotion, raise, etc.).

  6. 06

    buck off

    Of a horse or other animal, to rear up on its hind legs in order to throw off or dislodge its rider.

  7. 07

    buck the trend

    To go against the norm or the current stand of the main population; have a differing opinion from the majority.

  8. 08

    buck up one's ideas

    to pull one's socks up

Last updated August 10, 2026