knuckle down
verb
knuckled down; knuckling down; knuckles down
intransitive verb
: to apply oneself earnestly
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1864, in the meaning defined above
knuckle down
verb
as in to pitch in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- pitch in
- buckle (down)
- bang away
- dig in
- labor
- apply (oneself)
- hammer (away)
- peg (away)
- toil
- struggle
- grub
- slave
- beaver (away)
- plow
- hump
- drudge
- travail
- tug
- fag
- dig (away)
- endeavor
- sweat
- essay
- attack
- strive
- moil
- plug
- hustle
- work
- plod
- try
- strain
- put out
- slog
- eke out
- exercise
- overwork
- drive
- exert
- overexert
- grind (out)
- scratch
- scrabble
- wade
- trudge
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ease (up)
- break
- hang (around or out)
- hack (around)
- goof (off)
- slacken
- slack (off)
- let up
- bum
- lounge
- idle
- rest
- chill
- shirk
- loaf
- veg out
- footle
- relax
- goof (around)
- laze
- dally
- fool around
- unwind
- bask
- play
- repose
- hang about
- loll
- monkey (around)
- potter (around)
- hang
- goldbrick
- mess around
- trifle
- putter (around)
- dillydally
- doodle
- dabble
- fribble
