buck
buck /b'ʌk/ (bucks bucking bucked)
1 [N-COUNT]
A buck is a US or Australian dollar. (INFORMAL)
That would probably cost you about fifty bucks...
Why can't you spend a few bucks on a coat?...
= dollar
2 [N-COUNT]
A buck is the male of various animals, including the deer, antelope, rabbit and kangaroo.
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
If someone has buck teeth, their upper front teeth stick forward out of their mouth.
4 [VERB] V
If a horse bucks, it kicks both of its back legs wildly into the air, or jumps into the air wildly with all four feet off the ground.
The stallion bucked as he fought against the reins holding him tightly in.
5 [VERB] V n, V n
If you buck the trend, you obtain different results from others in the same area. If you buck the system, you get what you want by breaking or ignoring the rules.
While other newspapers are losing circulation, we are bucking the trend...
He wants to be the tough rebel who bucks the system...
6 [PHRASE] usu v compar PHR
If you get more bang for the buck, you spend your money wisely and get more for your money than if you were to spend it in a different way. (mainly AM INFORMAL)
I think it's very important for those governments to do whatever they can to get a bigger bang for the buck.
= value for money
7 [PHRASE] usu v PHR
When someone makes a fast buck or makes a quick buck, they earn a lot of money quickly and easily, often by doing something which is considered to be dishonest. (INFORMAL)
His life isn't ruled by looking for a fast buck...
They were just in it to make a quick buck.
8 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you are trying to make a buck, you are trying to earn some money. (INFORMAL)
The owners don't want to overlook any opportunity to make a buck.
9 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you pass the buck, you refuse to accept responsibility for something, and say that someone else is responsible. (INFORMAL)
David says the responsibility is Mr Smith's and it's no good trying to pass the buck.
10 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say `The buck stops here' or `The buck stops with me', you mean that you have to take responsibility for something and will not try to pass the responsibility on to someone else. (INFORMAL)
The buck stops with him. He is ultimately responsible for every aspect of the broadcast.buck for
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If you are bucking for something, you are working very hard to get it. (AM)
She is bucking for a promotion.buck up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you buck someone up or buck up their spirits, you say or do something to make them more cheerful. (BRIT INFORMAL)
Anything anybody said to him to try and buck him up wouldn't sink in...
The aim, it seemed, was to buck up their spirits in the face of the recession.
= cheer up
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron)
If you tell someone to buck up or to buck up their ideas, you are telling them to start behaving in a more positive and efficient manner. (INFORMAL)
People are saying if we don't buck up we'll be in trouble...
Buck up your ideas or you'll get more of the same treatment.
= pull one's socks up
1 [N-COUNT]
A buck is a US or Australian dollar. (INFORMAL)
That would probably cost you about fifty bucks...
Why can't you spend a few bucks on a coat?...
= dollar
2 [N-COUNT]
A buck is the male of various animals, including the deer, antelope, rabbit and kangaroo.
3 [ADJ] ADJ n
If someone has buck teeth, their upper front teeth stick forward out of their mouth.
4 [VERB] V
If a horse bucks, it kicks both of its back legs wildly into the air, or jumps into the air wildly with all four feet off the ground.
The stallion bucked as he fought against the reins holding him tightly in.
5 [VERB] V n, V n
If you buck the trend, you obtain different results from others in the same area. If you buck the system, you get what you want by breaking or ignoring the rules.
While other newspapers are losing circulation, we are bucking the trend...
He wants to be the tough rebel who bucks the system...
6 [PHRASE] usu v compar PHR
If you get more bang for the buck, you spend your money wisely and get more for your money than if you were to spend it in a different way. (mainly AM INFORMAL)
I think it's very important for those governments to do whatever they can to get a bigger bang for the buck.
= value for money
7 [PHRASE] usu v PHR
When someone makes a fast buck or makes a quick buck, they earn a lot of money quickly and easily, often by doing something which is considered to be dishonest. (INFORMAL)
His life isn't ruled by looking for a fast buck...
They were just in it to make a quick buck.
8 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you are trying to make a buck, you are trying to earn some money. (INFORMAL)
The owners don't want to overlook any opportunity to make a buck.
9 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you pass the buck, you refuse to accept responsibility for something, and say that someone else is responsible. (INFORMAL)
David says the responsibility is Mr Smith's and it's no good trying to pass the buck.
10 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say `The buck stops here' or `The buck stops with me', you mean that you have to take responsibility for something and will not try to pass the responsibility on to someone else. (INFORMAL)
The buck stops with him. He is ultimately responsible for every aspect of the broadcast.buck for
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If you are bucking for something, you are working very hard to get it. (AM)
She is bucking for a promotion.buck up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
If you buck someone up or buck up their spirits, you say or do something to make them more cheerful. (BRIT INFORMAL)
Anything anybody said to him to try and buck him up wouldn't sink in...
The aim, it seemed, was to buck up their spirits in the face of the recession.
= cheer up
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron)
If you tell someone to buck up or to buck up their ideas, you are telling them to start behaving in a more positive and efficient manner. (INFORMAL)
People are saying if we don't buck up we'll be in trouble...
Buck up your ideas or you'll get more of the same treatment.
= pull one's socks up