buck
buck — noun
1. an informal word for one dollar.
an informal word for one dollar.
Ravi found a buck under the sofa and bought a bus ticket.
a buck = one dollar
At the yard sale, each comic book cost only one buck.
one buck after a price
The cafe still sells small cookies for a buck each.
a buck each
Noa lent me a buck for the parking meter downtown.
- a buck
- one buck
- five bucks
- a buck each
- dollar
the neutral standard word in speech and writing
- greenback
a more playful or old-fashioned American word, especially for paper money
- one-dollar bill
names the paper note itself rather than the money unit in general
Grammar Patterns
a buck
number + bucks
a buck each
Usage Note
Usually follows a number or price in casual speech. Distinguish from noun/2 and noun/3: this sense refers to dollars, not rupees or rand.
Common Mistakes
2. money, or a chance to get a lot of it, in set informal expressions.
money, or a chance to get a lot of it, in set informal expressions.
Investors came hoping to make a quick buck from the phone app.
make a quick buck
The new printer gives small offices more bang for their buck.
more bang for your buck
After the promotion, Hana started bringing in the big bucks.
the big bucks
Holiday markets help local bands earn an extra buck or two.
- make a quick buck
- the big bucks
- more bang for your buck
- earn a buck
- loss
money that is lost instead of gained
Grammar Patterns
make a quick buck
bring in the big bucks
more bang for your buck
Usage Note
Usually appears in fixed phrases rather than as a simple price word. Distinguish from noun/1, noun/2, and noun/3: those senses name one unit of currency, while this sense often means money more generally.
Common Mistakes
3. a male deer, rabbit, or similar animal; in South Africa, it can also mean an ant
a male deer, rabbit, or similar animal; in South Africa, it can also mean an antelope or deer of either sex.
At dawn, a buck stepped out of the trees near the lake.
buck = male deer
The children watched a young buck chase another deer across the field.
young buck
In the hutch, the buck stayed apart from the female rabbit.
buck with rabbit
South African guides pointed to three buck by the fence.
- young buck
- buck rabbit
- a buck stepped out
- doe
the usual word for a female deer or rabbit
Grammar Patterns
a buck
young buck
buck + animal noun
Usage Note
Most often names a male deer or rabbit. In South African use, it can refer more broadly to antelope and may not mark sex in the same way.
Common Mistakes
4. an informal word for one rupee.
an informal word for one rupee.
In Mumbai, a paper cup of tea cost ten bucks.
number + bucks
Meera found a buck beside the fruit stand in Jaipur.
a buck = one rupee
At the Delhi stall, that postcard was a buck, so Rohan bought three.
On the bus through Pune, Priya counted her last twenty bucks.
- a buck
- ten bucks
- twenty bucks
- rupee
the neutral standard name of the currency
Grammar Patterns
a buck
number + bucks
Usage Note
This sense appears in Indian contexts. Distinguish from noun/1 and noun/3 by the local currency named in the situation.
5. an informal word for one rand.
an informal word for one rand.
In Cape Town, the driver asked for twenty bucks in cash.
number + bucks
At the Durban market, oranges sold for a buck each on Sunday.
a buck each
In Soweto, Yusuf kept a few bucks in his bag for bus fares.
After the Cape Town concert, parking cost thirty bucks at the gate.
- a buck
- twenty bucks
- a few bucks
- rand
the neutral standard name of the currency
Grammar Patterns
a buck
number + bucks
Usage Note
This sense appears in South African contexts. Distinguish from noun/1 and noun/2 by the currency used in the place or setting.
6. a four-legged gym object that students run at and leap across.
a four-legged gym object that students run at and leap across.
The coach placed the buck in the middle of the gym.
place the buck
After warm-up, each student ran and jumped over the buck.
jump over the buck
The old buck needed new leather before the school meet.
During practice, Pia slipped beside the buck but was unhurt.
- jump over the buck
- vaulting buck
- gym buck
- vaulting horse
the more familiar modern term for similar equipment
- horse
shorter gym term that depends on context
Grammar Patterns
jump over the buck
place the buck
vaulting buck
Usage Note
Used mainly in gymnastics, especially older or technical descriptions of vaulting equipment. Modern learners may also meet horse or vaulting horse for a similar object.
bang for your buck
idiomThe value you get in relation to the money or effort you spend.
Mia got great bang for her buck with that cheap laptop.
Does this gym membership give you enough bang for your buck?
To look or feel extremely attractive, healthy, or happy.
Sara looked like a million dollars in her new dress.
After a good night's sleep, Diego felt like a million bucks.
To earn money quickly and with little effort.
Brian tried to make a quick buck by selling fake watches.
Are you in this business to make a fast buck or build a career?
buck — verb
1. if a horse bucks, it throws its body upward and kicks backward hard.
if a horse bucks, it throws its body upward and kicks backward hard.
The young horse bucked when the saddle strap felt too tight.
buck when + clause
As soon as Ravi climbed on, the pony bucked twice.
horse buck
Startled by the dog, the mare bucked across the yard.
During the storm, one wet mule bucked and broke the gate.
- bucked twice
- horse bucked
- pony bucked
- buck under a rider
- stand still
describes calm, unmoving behavior
Grammar Patterns
horse buck
buck under + rider
buck when + clause
Usage Note
The subject is usually a horse, pony, or similar animal being ridden or handled. Distinguish from rear, which focuses on rising onto the back legs rather than kicking out.
Common Mistakes
2. to resist something or refuse to follow it.
to resist something or refuse to follow it.
Several parents bucked the plan to close the village school.
buck + plan
Even in winter, the team bucked tradition and trained outdoors.
buck + tradition
Maya bucked family pressure and opened her own bakery.
buck + pressure
One senator bucked the party line during the late vote.
- buck the plan
- buck tradition
- buck pressure
- buck the party line
Grammar Patterns
buck + plan
buck + pressure
buck + trend/tradition
Usage Note
The object is usually a plan, trend, rule, line, or pressure from other people. It often suggests open resistance rather than simple disagreement.
Common Mistakes
3. to lurch or shake in rough, sudden movements.
to lurch or shake in rough, sudden movements.
The truck bucked over the rocky track after the bridge.
buck over + surface
Waves bucked the small boat near the harbor wall.
vehicle buck
Under the heavy boxes, the old cart bucked and rattled.
buck and + verb
As the engine failed, the bus bucked once and stopped.
- truck bucked
- boat bucked
- buck over the road
- buck and rattle
- glide
suggests smooth, easy movement
- roll smoothly
emphasizes the absence of rough shaking
Grammar Patterns
vehicle buck
buck over + surface
buck and + verb
Usage Note
The subject is usually a vehicle, boat, cart, or machine under rough force. Distinguish from verb/1: this sense is about jolting movement, not an animal kicking backward.
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Buck is an informal everyday word for one dollar, especially in speech about small prices or simple amounts: five bucks, twenty bucks. Dollar is the neutral word and works everywhere, including writing, school, and official prices. Greenback is more American in tone and often sounds old-fashioned or playful; it usually makes people think of US paper money. Bill names the note itself, so a one-dollar bill is the piece of paper, not the value in general. Cash is broader than all of these, because it means money in notes or coins, not specifically one dollar. Say The ticket was ten bucks in conversation, but The ticket cost ten dollars in formal writing.
Etymology
The oldest English sense of buck named a male deer or goat and comes from Old English bucca. The verb for a horse jumping and kicking grew from that animal idea. The money sense is much newer and is usually connected with buckskin, because deer skins were used as trade goods in early North America.