Sl. to work ambitiously for something, such as a promotion. I'm just bucking for recognition and, of course, a 20 percent raise.You can tell by her attention to the boss that she's bucking for promotion.
Strive for, aim for, as in She's bucking for Editor of the Year. Strongly associated with seeking a promotion in the military, this expression originated in the late 1800s and is now applied more widely.