knuckle down

idiom

Meaning

To get to work; to focus on a task.

Origin

first recorded 19th c.

1864 in American English, from the game of marbles.

Examples

SIMPLE

I need to knuckle down and finish my homework.

CONTEXTUAL

With the final exams approaching next week, the students decided to knuckle down and study in the library.

COMPLEX

Recognizing that the project deadline was rapidly approaching, the team finally knuckled down to resolve the remaining technical challenges.

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