buckle down

British  

verb

1. informal (intr, adverb) to apply oneself with determination

   to buckle down to a job

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buckle down Idioms  

1. 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]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

buckle down

If she can find a path to collective resilience in these dark times, I’d better suit up and buckle down.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 30, 2026

“Let’s buckle down together, let’s remove barriers for each other and let’s go get it, all right?” he said to applause.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2025

“Being a farmer, you have good years, you have bad years. When you have those bad years, you buckle down, and you work harder,” Bailey said.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 14, 2024

"We can get there - but these companies better buckle down and they better get serious."

From Reuters ● Sep. 1, 2023

“I just got to buckle down and hit the books,” I said.

From "Slam!" by Walter Dean Myers