# buck up

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/buck-up
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

To cheer up or start feeling more positive and energetic. You use this when you want someone to stop being sad or to try harder.

For teachers: To improve one's mood or increase one's effort; to become more encouraged or spirited. Often used as an imperative to exhort someone to overcome despondency.

## Examples

- Buck up! Things aren't as bad as they seem.
- After he lost the match, his coach told him to buck up and focus on the next game.
- Despite the initial setback, the team managed to buck up and deliver a performance that surprised the critics.

## Pitfalls

- Not "You should buck up yourself." but "You should buck up." — The phrase is typically used as an intransitive verb and does not take a reflexive pronoun.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a command or suggestion to someone who looks unhappy or discouraged.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'cheer up'; 'buck up' often implies a need for more energy or effort, not just a better mood.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.