knuckle

noun countable

UK /ˈnʌk(ə)l/

Word Forms

singular	knuckle
plural	knuckles

1
usually pluralone of the parts where your fingers can bend or where they join your hand
Synonyms and related words
General words for limbs and appendages
ankle
appendage
arch
2
a piece of meat from an animal’s lower leg
Synonyms and related words
Joints and cuts of meat
a rack of lamb/pork
beefsteak
braising steak

phrases

near the knuckle

knuckle

noun countable

US /ˈnʌk(ə)l/

Word Forms

singular	knuckle
plural	knuckles

1
usually pluralone of the parts where your fingers can bend or where they join your hand
Synonyms and related words
General words for limbs and appendages
ankle
appendage
arch
2
a piece of meat from an animal’s lower leg
Synonyms and related words
Joints and cuts of meat
a rack of lamb/ribs
beefsteak
braising steak

phrases

near the knuckle

knuckle

verb

UK /ˈnʌk(ə)l/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	knuckle
he/she/it	knuckles
present participle	knuckling
past tense	knuckled
past participle	knuckled

phrasal verbs

knuckle down

intransitive

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	knuckle down
he/she/it	knuckles down
present participle	knuckling down
past tense	knuckled down
past participle	knuckled down

informal

to start working hard, especially when you should have done this earlier

It’s time you knuckled down to some work.

Synonyms and related words

To work hard

work at

forge

overwork

knuckle under

intransitive

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	knuckle under
he/she/it	knuckles under
present participle	knuckling under
past tense	knuckled under
past participle	knuckled under

informal

to do what someone tells you to do

He wasn’t going to knuckle under to some woman.

Synonyms and related words

To obey a law or rule, or to accept someone’s authority

obey

observe

comply

knuckle

verb

US /ˈnʌk(ə)l/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	knuckle
he/she/it	knuckles
present participle	knuckling
past tense	knuckled
past participle	knuckled

phrasal verbs

knuckle down

intransitive

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	knuckle down
he/she/it	knuckles down
present participle	knuckling down
past tense	knuckled down
past participle	knuckled down

informal

to start working hard, especially when you should have done this earlier

This year’s students seem much more inclined to knuckle down to work.

It’s time you knuckled down to some work.

Synonyms and related words

To work hard

work at

forge

overwork

knuckle under

intransitive

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	knuckle under
he/she/it	knuckles under
present participle	knuckling under
past tense	knuckled under
past participle	knuckled under

informal

to do what someone tells you to do

He wasn’t going to knuckle under to some woman.

Synonyms and related words

To obey a law or rule, or to accept someone’s authority

obey

observe

comply