Definition

1. Noun:

   • A mature male of certain mammals: A buck is the adult male of animals such as deer, antelope, rabbits, or goats.
   • A U.S. or Australian dollar: (Informal) A buck is a slang term for one unit of currency.
   • A dashing young man: (Archaic, informal) A buck can refer to a fashionable and spirited young man.
   • A sawhorse: A buck is a framework, typically with legs and a crossbar, used to support wood for sawing.

2. Verb:

   • To jump vertically with an arched back: An animal, especially a horse, bucks by leaping upward with its back arched and legs stiff.
   • To resist or oppose: To buck means to oppose something stubbornly or to go against a trend or system.
   • To strive energetically for something: (Often followed by "for") To buck means to work hard or campaign for a promotion or advantage.
   • To move suddenly and violently: To buck can mean to move or charge in a quick, jerky, or forceful manner.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • We saw a large buck with impressive antlers in the forest. (Referring to a male deer.)
  • The book cost me twenty bucks. (Referring to dollars.)
  • He propped the log on the buck before starting to saw. (Referring to a sawhorse.)

• Verb:

  • The wild horse tried to buck its rider off. (Referring to a jumping motion.)
  • She decided to buck tradition and start her own business. (Referring to resisting a norm.)
  • He's been bucking for a management position for months. (Referring to striving for promotion.)
  • The truck bucked over the rough terrain. (Referring to a violent, jerky motion.)

Advanced Usage

• "to buck the trend": To act contrary to a prevailing pattern or tendency.

  • While sales are falling industry-wide, our company is bucking the trend.

• "to buck up" (phrasal verb): To cheer up or to make a hurried effort.

  • Buck up! Things will get better. (Meaning: Cheer up!)
  • We need to buck up if we want to finish on time. (Meaning: Hurry up/make an effort.)

Variants and Related Words

• Buckaroo (n, informal): A cowboy.
• Buckboard (n): A four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with a springy platform.
• Bucktooth (n): A projecting front tooth.
• Buck naked (adj, informal): Completely naked.

Synonyms

• Noun (male animal): Stag, hart.
• Noun (dollar): Dollar, smacker (slang).
• Verb (jump): Leap, rear, plunge.
• Verb (resist): Oppose, defy, resist.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Buck up: To become or make more cheerful; to hurry. (See "Advanced Usage").
• Buck off: To throw (a rider) off by bucking.
  • The bronco bucked the cowboy off in seconds.

Related Idioms

• Pass the buck: To shift responsibility or blame to someone else.

  • Don't try to pass the buck; this was your mistake.

• Bang for the buck: Value for money; effectiveness for the cost.

  • This new software gives us the best bang for the buck.

• Feel like a million bucks: To feel very healthy and energetic.

  • After a good night's sleep, I feel like a million bucks.

Noun

1. mature male of various mammals (especially deer or antelope)
2. a framework for holding wood that is being sawed
3. United States author whose novels drew on her experiences as a missionary in China (1892-1973)
4. a piece of paper money worth one dollar
5. a gymnastic horse without pommels and with one end elongated; used lengthwise for vaulting

Verb

1. jump vertically, with legs stiff and back arched
   • the yung filly bucked
2. move quickly and violently
   • The car tore down the street
   • He came charging into my office
3. resist
   • buck the trend
4. to strive with determination
   • John is bucking for a promotion