buck up

verb

bucked up; bucking up; bucks up

intransitive verb

: to become encouraged : brace up

transitive verb

1
2
: to raise the morale of

Examples of buck up in a Sentence

buck up, kids, it's not so bad as you're making it out to be a surprise presidential visit to buck up the troops
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
In Williamsport, the coach would probably just buck up his shortstop and tell him to get the next one. Dan Freedman, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 But then, two days later and about a half-hour before Harris was set to deliver a masterful closing argument with the White House’s south front as her backdrop, Biden was trying to buck up Latino supporters in a call from the White House residence. Philip Elliott, TIME, 31 Oct. 2024 Assuming the 49ers’ run defense is not further compromised by their inability to buck up (and fill defensive tackle Javon Hargrave’s absence), then Bosa, Leonard Floyd and any timely blitzer must pressure Prescott into sacks, interceptions and his fourth straight defeat to the 49ers. Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2024 Still others buck up the recipe with spirits—so many bartenders have reflexively added vodka that many mistakenly believe that vodka is part of the original recipe. Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for buck up 

Word History

Etymology

buck entry 2

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of buck up was in 1844

Dictionary Entries Near buck up

Cite this Entry

“Buck up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buck%20up. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on buck up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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