Phrasal verbs with “Buckle” in English

“Buckle” — Meaning, Phrasal Verbs, and Usage Examples

The word “buckle” is a versatile term in English that functions as both a noun and a verb. Its meanings vary widely depending on context, making it an interesting and useful word to learn. Let’s dive deeper into its core meanings and roles.

Meaning of “Buckle” as a Noun

1. Buckle (a fastening) — A clasp or metal fitting used to secure belts or straps:
   • He adjusted the buckle on his belt.
2. Buckle (bend or fold) — A shape or fold that may form under pressure or tension:
   • The metal showed a slight buckle under the weight.

Meaning of “Buckle” as a Verb

1. To buckle (fasten) — To secure a belt or other fastening:
   • Don’t forget to buckle your seatbelt before the flight.
2. To buckle (yield or collapse under pressure) — To bend or give way physically or emotionally:
   • The bridge began to buckle under the intense load.
   • After weeks of stress, he finally buckled under pressure.
3. To buckle (archaic: to marry) — An older, less common usage meaning to unite in marriage:
   • They decided to buckle the young couple together in matrimony.

“Buckle” has a wide range of meanings, from “fasten” or “clasp” to “bend” or even “marry.” This word is also the basis for many phrasal verbs that expand its meaning and application in daily life. In this article, we’ll explore common phrasal verbs with “buckle” and demonstrate their usage for a deeper understanding of English.

Common Phrasal Verbs with “Buckle”

1. Buckle up — to fasten one’s seatbelt

Meaning: Primarily used to mean fastening a seatbelt in a car or airplane. In a figurative sense, it can mean “get ready” for something significant or challenging.

Example:

• Everyone, buckle up! We’re about to take off.

2. Buckle down — to start working seriously

Meaning: This phrase emphasizes the need to focus on an important task or work diligently.

Example:

• If you want to succeed, you need to buckle down and focus.

3. Buckle under — to break or collapse under pressure

Meaning: Used to describe situations where someone or something can’t handle pressure or difficulties, both physically and emotionally.

Example:

• He finally buckled under the stress of managing the entire team.

4. Buckle in — to fasten or prepare for something long or challenging

Meaning: Similar to “buckle up,” this phrase also suggests getting ready for a long journey or challenging period.

Example:

• Buckle in, this project will take a few months to complete.

5. Buckle to — to begin working with great effort

Meaning: Used to mean “dive into” a task with effort or diligence.

Example:

• Once he understood the importance of the project, he buckled to and worked tirelessly.

6. Buckle under the weight of — to fail under the weight or pressure of something

Meaning: Used to imply “bending under the weight of something,” both in a physical and figurative sense, such as the weight of responsibilities or duties.

Example:

• The small boat began to buckle under the weight of all the passengers.

7. Buckle oneself — to brace or prepare oneself

Meaning: A less common phrase, meaning to “gather one’s strength” or prepare mentally for a challenging task or event.

Example:

• She buckled herself before giving the difficult speech.

8. Bucket down — to rain heavily

Meaning: This phrasal verb describes very heavy rain, commonly used in British English to emphasize the intensity of a downpour.

Example:

• It started to bucket down just as we left the house.
• We should wait here until it stops bucketing down.

Exercise: Fill in the Missing Phrasal Verb with “Buckle”

Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete each sentence:

Phrasal Verbs to Choose From: buckle up, buckle down, buckle under, buckle in, buckle to, buckle under the weight of, buckle oneself

1. Before starting the road trip, everyone was reminded to __________.
2. He felt exhausted but knew he had to __________ and finish the project.
3. After a long day, she almost __________ the weight of her responsibilities.
4. The students were told to __________ and prepare for their final exams.
5. Despite the challenges, she managed to __________ and complete her speech confidently.
6. As the storm grew stronger, the old roof began to __________ the pressure of the wind.
7. It’s going to be a long meeting, so everyone should __________.

Answers

1. buckle up — Before starting the road trip, everyone was reminded to buckle up.
2. buckle down — He felt exhausted but knew he had to buckle down and finish the project.
3. buckle under the weight of — After a long day, she almost buckled under the weight of her responsibilities.
4. buckle down — The students were told to buckle down and prepare for their final exams.
5. buckle oneself — Despite the challenges, she managed to buckle herself and complete her speech confidently.
6. buckle under — As the storm grew stronger, the old roof began to buckle under the pressure of the wind.
7. buckle in — It’s going to be a long meeting, so everyone should buckle in.