knuckle
knuck|le /n'ʌkəl/ (knuckles knuckling knuckled)
[N-COUNT] usu pl, oft poss N
Your knuckles are the rounded pieces of bone that form lumps on your hands where your fingers join your hands, and where your fingers bend.
Brenda's knuckles were white as she gripped the arms of the chair.
a rap on the knuckles: see rapknuckle down
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P to n/-ing
If someone knuckles down, they begin to work or study very hard, especially after a period when they have done very little work. (INFORMAL)
The only thing to do was knuckle down and get on with some serious hard work...
He managed to knuckle down to his lessons long enough to pass his examination.
= buckle downknuckle under
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P to n
If you knuckle under, you do what someone else tells you to do or what a situation forces you to do, because you realize that you have no choice. (INFORMAL)
It is arguable whether the rebels will knuckle under...
The United States, he said, did not knuckle under to demands.
= give in, buckle under
[N-COUNT] usu pl, oft poss N
Your knuckles are the rounded pieces of bone that form lumps on your hands where your fingers join your hands, and where your fingers bend.
Brenda's knuckles were white as she gripped the arms of the chair.
a rap on the knuckles: see rapknuckle down
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P to n/-ing
If someone knuckles down, they begin to work or study very hard, especially after a period when they have done very little work. (INFORMAL)
The only thing to do was knuckle down and get on with some serious hard work...
He managed to knuckle down to his lessons long enough to pass his examination.
= buckle downknuckle under
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P to n
If you knuckle under, you do what someone else tells you to do or what a situation forces you to do, because you realize that you have no choice. (INFORMAL)
It is arguable whether the rebels will knuckle under...
The United States, he said, did not knuckle under to demands.
= give in, buckle under