Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense bucks, present participle bucking, past tense, past participle bucked
1. countable noun
A buck is a US or Australian dollar.
[informal]
That would probably cost you about fifty bucks.
Why can't you spend a few bucks on a coat? [+ on]
This means big bucks for someone.
Synonyms: profit, earnings, return, proceeds More Synonyms of buck
2. countable noun
A buck is the male of various animals, including the deer, antelope, rabbit and kangaroo.
3. countable noun
A buck is a young man.
[US, informal, old-fashioned, offensive]
He'd been a real hell-raiser as a young buck.
4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
If someone has buck teeth, their upper front teeth stick forward out of their mouth.
5. verb
If a horse bucks, it kicks both of its back legs wildly into the air, or jumps into the air wildly with allfour feet off the ground.
The stallion bucked as he fought against the reins holding him tightly in. [VERB]
...cowboys riding bucking broncos. [VERB-ing]
6. verb
If you buck the trend, you obtain different results from others in the same area. If you buck the system, you get what you want by breaking or ignoring the rules.
While other newspapers are losing circulation, we are bucking the trend. [VERB noun]
He wants to be the tough rebel who bucks the system. [VERB noun]
The company believes it is bucking the recession and says orders continue to be satisfactory. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: resist, oppose, defy, thwart More Synonyms of buck
7.
See (more) bang for the/one's buck
8.
See to make a fast buck
9.
See make a buck
10.
See buck naked
11.
See to pass the buck
12.
See the buck stops here/with me
Phrasal verbs:
See buck for
See buck up
More Synonyms of buck
buck in British English1
(bʌk)
noun
1.
a.
the male of various animals including the goat, hare, kangaroo, rabbit, and reindeer
b.
(as modifier)
a buck antelope
2. South Africa
an antelope or deer of either sex
3. US informal
a young man
4. archaic
a robust, spirited young man
5. archaic
a dandy; fop
6.
the act of bucking
verb
7. (intransitive)
(of a horse or other animal) to jump vertically, with legs stiff and back arched
8. (transitive)
(of a horse, etc) to throw (its rider) by bucking
9. (whenintr, often foll by against) informal, mainly US and Canadian
to resist or oppose obstinately
to buck against change
to buck change
10. (tr; usually passive) informal
to cheer or encourage
I was very bucked at passing the exam
11. US and Canadian informal
(esp of a car) to move forward jerkily; jolt
12. US and Canadian
to charge against (something) with the head down; butt
Derived forms
bucker (ˈbucker)
noun
Word origin
Old English bucca he-goat; related to Old Norse bukkr, Old High German bock, Old Irish bocc
buck in British English2
(bʌk) informal
noun
1. US, Canadian and Australian
a dollar
2. South Africa
a rand
3. a fast buck
4. bang for one's buck
Word origin
C19: of obscure origin
buck in British English3
(bʌk)
noun
1. gymnastics
a type of vaulting horse
2. US and Canadian
a stand for timber during sawing
Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): sawhorse
verb
3. (transitive) US and Canadian
to cut (a felled or fallen tree) into lengths
Word origin
C19: short for sawbuck
buck in British English4
(bʌk)
noun
1. poker
a marker in the jackpot to remind the winner of some obligation when his or her turn comes to deal
2. pass the buck
3. the buck stops here
Word origin
C19: probably from buckhorn knife, placed before a player in poker to indicate that he was the next dealer
Buck in British English
(bʌk)
noun
Pearl S(ydenstricker). 1892–1973, US novelist, noted particularly for her novel of Chinese life The Good Earth (1931): Nobel prize for literature 1938
Buck in American English
(bʌk)
Pearl(born Pearl Sydenstricker) 1892-1973; U.S. novelist
buck in American English1
(bʌk)
noun
1.
the male of the deer, antelope, rabbit, hare, sheep, or goat
2.
the male of certain other animals, as the shad
3.
an impetuous, dashing, or spirited man or youth
4. often derogatory
a Native American or black male
5.
buckskin
6.
bucks, casual oxford shoes made of buckskin, often in white or a neutral color
adjective
7. Military
of the lowest of several ranks involving the same principal designation, hence subject to promotion within the rank
buck private
buck sergeant
Word origin
[bef. 1000; ME bukke, OE bucca he-goat, bucc male deer; c. D bok, G Bock, ON bukkr; def. 5, 6 by shortening; buck private (from ca. 1870) perh. as extension of general sense “male,” i.e., having no statusother than being male]
buck in American English2
(bʌk)
intransitive verb
1. (of a saddle or pack animal)
to leap with arched back and come down with head low and forelegs stiff, in order to dislodge a rider or pack
2. informal
to resist or oppose obstinately; object strongly
The mayor bucked at the school board's suggestion
3. (of a vehicle, motor, or the like)
to operate unevenly; move by jerks and bounces
transitive verb
4.
to throw or attempt to throw (a rider or pack) by bucking
5.
to force a way through or proceed against (an obstacle)
The plane bucked a strong headwind
6.
to strike with the head; butt
7.
to resist or oppose obstinately; object strongly to
8. American Football(of a ball-carrier)
to charge into (the opponent's line)
9.
to gamble, play, or take a risk against
He was bucking the odds when he bought that failing business
10.
to press a reinforcing device against (the force of a rivet) in order to absorb vibration and increase expansion
11. See buck for
12. See buck up
noun
13.
an act of bucking
Word origin
[1855–60; verbal use of buck1, influenced in some senses by buck3]
buck in American English3
(bʌk)
noun
1.
a sawhorse
2. Gymnastics
a cylindrical, leather-covered block mounted in a horizontal position on a single vertical post set in a steel frame, for usechiefly in vaulting
3.
any of various heavy frames, racks, or jigs used to support materials or partially assembled items during manufacture, as in airplane assembly plants
4. Also called: door buck
a doorframe of wood or metal set in a partition, esp. one of light masonry, to support door hinges, hardware, finish work, etc
transitive verb
5.
to split or saw (logs, felled trees, etc.)
6. See buck in
Word origin
[1855–60; short for sawbuck]
buck in American English4
(bʌk)
noun
1. Poker
any object in the pot that reminds the winner of some privilege or obligation when his or her turn to deal next comes
2. See pass the buck
transitive verb
3.
to pass (something) along to another, esp. as a means of avoiding responsibility or blame
He bucked the letter on to the assistant vice president to answer
Word origin
[1860–65; short for buckhorn knife, an object which served this function]
buck in American English5
(bʌk)
Brit dialect
noun
1.
lye used for washing clothes
2.
clothes washed in lye
transitive verb
3.
to wash or bleach (clothes) in lye
Word origin
[1350–1400; ME bouken (v.); cf. MLG buken, büken to steep in lye, MHG būchen, bruchen]
buck in American English6
(bʌk)
intransitive verb or noun
Anglo-Indian bukh
buck in American English7
(bʌk)
adverb
informal
completely; stark
buck naked
Word origin
[1925–30, Amer.; of obscure orig.]
buck in American English8
(bʌk)
noun
slang
a dollar
Word origin
[1855–60, Amer.; perh. buck1 in sense “buckskin”; deerskins were used by Indians and frontiersmen as a unit ofexchange in transactions with merchants]
More idioms containing
buck
pass the buck
the buck stops here
more bang for your buck
Examples of 'buck' in a sentence
buck
Throw out the big bucks to get the best managers and players.
The Sun (2017)
Learn to buck that trend now and you will be a better man because of it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Proof that the small screen is now all about big bucks.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is no good passing the buck to the police.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
How has this age group bucked the trend?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Instead they have shown it to be worthless by passing the buck to the new manager.
The Sun (2016)
Not knowing the law or trying to pass the buck to another company in the chain is no excuse.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Who makes the big bucks?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Sure, you can be lucky and buy in the right part of the cycle when prices are low and make a quick buck.
The Sun (2016)
His inability, or lack of time, to turn the big bucks into silverware cost him.
The Sun (2016)
They are putting the safety of residents at risk to make a quick buck.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
What bang do you get for your bucks?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Here are five retailers bucking the trend.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Twenty20 is the one form of the domestic game that can bring in some big bucks.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Yet one company is bucking the trend.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He was willing to buck the system.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Where is the scheme that has something more meaningful than another fast buck as its goal?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Whether the young bucks had too much licence is a moot point.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Politicians pass the buck to management in the public services.
The Sun (2009)
This suggests a possible way to make a quick buck.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
The manufacturers out to make a fast buck?
The Sun (2013)
But sometimes a firm comes along that bucks the trend.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Buck stops with man in charge.
The Sun (2009)
We felt bad about it, especially as it cost a thousand bucks.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There was the usual round of blood letting, some unusual apologies and yet more buck passing.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Instead, it is better to watch out for how much buck you get for your pound.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Suddenly a large buck deer leapt across the road in front of the car and I slammed on thebrakes.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But that doesn't mean you have to spend big bucks to get the suave Bond look.
The Sun (2006)
The car leapt ahead of me like a bucking horse, the V12 engine emitting a satisfying scream.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
buck
British English: buck VERB
If a horse bucks, it kicks both of its back legs wildly into the air.
The stallion bucked as he fought against the reins holding him tightly in.
American English: buck
Brazilian Portuguese: coicear
Chinese: 狂蹬后腿跃起马
European Spanish: corcovear
French: ruer
German: bocken
Italian: sgroppare
Japanese: はね上がる
Korean: 날뛰다
European Portuguese: escoicear
Latin American Spanish: corcovear
Chinese translation of 'buck'
buck
(bʌk)
n(c)
(US, inf, = dollar) 元 (yuán)
(= rabbit) 雄兔 (xióngtù) (只, zhī)
(= deer) 雄鹿 (xiónglù) (只, zhī)
vi
[horse]弓背跳跃(躍) (gōngbèi tiàoyuè)
to make a fast or quick buck (inf) 很快地捞(撈)一笔(筆) (hěn kuài de lāoyībǐ)
to pass the buck (inf) 推卸责(責)任 (tuīxiè zérèn)
1 (noun)
(informal)
This means big bucks for someone.
Synonyms
profit
The bank made pre-tax profits of £3.5 million.
earnings
return
They have seen no return on their investment.
proceeds
takings
winnings
2 (noun)
Definition
a spirited young man
(archaic)
He'd been a real hellraiser as a young buck.
Synonyms
gallant
a young gallant who is in love
blood
spark
blade
beau
dandy
a handsome young dandy
fop
the buckles and frills of a fop
popinjay
the man known as the popinjay of tennis
coxcomb
1 (verb)
Definition
to resist or oppose obstinately
He wants to be the tough rebel who bucks the system.
Synonyms
resist
They resisted our attempts to modernize distribution.
oppose
Mr Taylor was bitter towards those who had opposed him.
defy
This was the first time that I had dared to defy her.
thwart
They were doing all they could to thwart the opposition.
stand up to
struggle against
hold out against
put up a fight (against)
2 (verb)
Definition
(of a horse or other animal) to jump vertically, with legs stiff and back arched
Synonyms
jump
stamping their boots and jumping up and down to knock the snow off
start
Rachel started at his touch.
spring
The lion roared once and sprang.
bound
He bounded up the steps and pushed the bell of the door.
leap
He leapt over a wall brandishing a weapon.
jerk
vault
Ned vaulted over the low wall.
prance
The cheerleaders pranced on the far side of the pitch.
Phrasal verbs
See buck something or someone up
See buck up
related words
collective nounsbracelease
Additional synonyms
in the sense of beau
Definition
a man who is greatly concerned with his appearance
Synonyms
dandy,
swell (informal),
cavalier,
gallant,
fop,
popinjay,
coxcomb,
ladies' man
in the sense of bound
Definition
to bounce
He bounded up the steps and pushed the bell of the door.
Synonyms
leap,
bob,
spring,
jump,
bounce,
skip,
vault,
pounce
in the sense of dandy
Definition
a man who is greatly concerned with the elegance of his appearance