1. Home
2. Idioms
3. buckle under

buckle under

---

---

buckle under

 

1. Lit. [for something] to collapse. With heavy trucks on it, the bridge buckled under. The table buckled under.

2. Fig. [for someone] to collapse or give in under the burden of heavy demands or great anxiety. With so much to worry about, she buckled under. I was afraid she would buckle under.

See also: buckle

buckle under something

to collapse under or from the weight of something. The bridge buckled under the weight of the truck and collapsed. The table finally buckled under.

See also: buckle

buckle under

Give way, collapse owing to stress, as in One more heavy snowfall and the roof may buckle under, or She buckled under the strain of two jobs. [Late 1500s]

See also: buckle

buckle under

v.

1. To bend, crumple or collapse under some great weight or pressure: The bridge supports were weakened by rust and buckled under the weight of the heavy truck. The metal chair I was sitting on suddenly buckled under, and I fell to the ground.

2. To succumb to or be adversely affected by some pressure: Some schools have buckled under the strain of having too many new students. I had fought very hard against their ideas but finally buckled under to them.

See also: buckle