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buckle down

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buckle down (to something)

to settle down to something; to begin to work seriously at something. If you don't buckle down to your job, you'll be fired. You had better buckle down and get busy.

See also: buckle, down

buckle someone or something down

to attach someone or something down with straps that buckle together. They stopped to buckle the load down again. Did you buckle down the kids?

See also: buckle, down

buckle down

to do the work you need to do Schools, parents, and students need to buckle down and find ways to reach the new standards.

See also: buckle, down

buckle down

Set to work, apply oneself with determination, as in All right, we'll buckle down now and study for exams. Originating about 1700 as buckle to, the expression gained currency with the football song "Buckle-Down, Winsocki" (from the Broadway musical comedy Best Foot Forward, 1941). [Mid-1800s]

See also: buckle, down

buckle down

v.

1. To secure something or someone with straps that fasten together with buckles: Don't forget to buckle down the top of the suitcase before we pack it into the car. We took off our backpacks and buckled them down on the roof of the truck.

2. To apply oneself and start working seriously at something: I've wasted a lot of time, and now I have to buckle down and finish my homework.

See also: buckle, down