buckle down
Apply oneself fully
To buckle down is to apply oneself with focus and determination, especially to difficult or unpleasant work: I really need to buckle down and finish this thesis.
The phrase suggests setting aside distractions and getting serious about a task that requires sustained effort.
concentrate
Reduced, potent form
apply · persevere · strive · work hard · grind · toil · hustle · push through · dig in · get serious
- focusfocus, concentration, attention, focal point, concentrate
- maximum effortall-out, full throttle, go all out, go hard, all in
- perseverancepersist, never give up, tenacity, hang in there, endurance
- beginningsbegin, beginning, start, first, opening
- clothing idiomsfit like a glove, dressed to the nines, dressed to kill, wear the pants, at the drop of a hat
- conformityconformity, conforming, conform, conformist, conformism
buckle downslack off
Reduce one's effort
goof off · loaf · shirk · procrastinate · coast
buckle downgive up
Stop attempting something
quit · throw in the towel · lose focus · cave in · let oneself go
buckle downfool around
Act without purpose
mess around · play around · horse around · goof around · clown around
down, buckle, buckled, buckles, buckling, unbuckled, belt buckle, unbuckles, unbuckling