knuckle under: meaning & examples

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Language: English

Meanings:

  • 1.

    United StatesUnited Kingdominformalneutral
    • To submit or yield to pressure, demands, or authority; to give in after resisting.
    • To cease opposing or resisting and accept someone else's control, terms, or conditions.

    Examples

    Beta

    • Despite the pressure from his boss, Tom refused to knuckle under and stood firm on his decision.

      Despite the pressure from his boss, Tom refused to knuckle under and stood firm on his decision.

    • She knuckled under after hours of negotiation and agreed to the new terms.

      She knuckled under after hours of negotiation and agreed to the new terms.

    • I won’t knuckle under just because they’re demanding more work without extra pay.

      I won’t knuckle under just because they’re demanding more work without extra pay.

  • 2.

    General Englishinformalemphatic
    • To cave in under strain or coercion, especially after prolonged pressure or persuasion.

    Examples

    Beta

    • The team finally knuckled under when the coach insisted on stricter training routines.

      The team finally knuckled under when the coach insisted on stricter training routines.

    • After weeks of protests, the company knuckled under and improved working conditions.

      After weeks of protests, the company knuckled under and improved working conditions.

    • You might have to knuckle under if you want to keep your position in the company’s hierarchy.

      You might have to knuckle under if you want to keep your position in the company’s hierarchy.

Examples:

  • EN: So why should we knuckle under?
    ES: ¿Entonces porque nos sometemos?
  • EN: You'd want a man like me, who'd knuckle under to no one – least of all you.
    ES: Querrías a un hombre como yo, que no se someta a nadie, menos que nadie a ti.
  • EN: It seems to me that if we knuckle under now,
    ES: Si cedemos a esas exigencias...
  • EN: After all you've taught us, how can you say we should knuckle under now?
    ES: Después de todo lo que nos has enseñado, ¿cómo puedes decir ahora que nos escondamos?
  • EN: - He'll knuckle under.
    ES: - Se somete.
  • EN: I've thought of the humiliation if we just tamely submit, knuckle under and crawl.
    ES: He pensado en la humillación de rendirnos dócilmente, de pasar por el aro y arrastrarnos.
  • EN: Are you suggesting we should knuckle under?
    ES: ¿Sugiere que claudiquemos?
  • EN: If you knuckle under to this extortionist now do you think he'll stop at a quarter million a week?
    ES: ¿Si se achican a este extorsionador ahora creen que se detendrá en un cuarto de millón por semana?
  • EN: To knuckle under to the scoundrel all our lives?
    ES: ¿Para someternos a ese sinvergüenza toda nuestra vida?
  • EN: Why the hell does he bother to knuckle under now?
    ES: ¿Por qué demonios habrá cedido ahora?
  • EN: I am not going to knuckle under.
    ES: No voy a quedarme quieto.
  • EN: lf he thinks l'm going to knuckle under to his ludicrous scheme, he's got another think fast approaching a five-furlong marker.
    ES: Si cree que voy a aceptar su ridículo plan, tendrá que cambiar de idea más rápido que un caballo en los últimos metros.
  • EN: I told you they'd knuckle under.
    ES: Te dije que cederían.
  • EN: If he thinks I'm going to knuckle under to his ludicrous scheme, he's got another think fast approaching a five-furlong marker.
    ES: Si cree que voy a pasar por el aro de su ridículo plan, tendrá que cambiar de idea más rápido que un caballo en los últimos metros.
  • EN: We can't knuckle under.
    ES: No hay que bajar la guardia.

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Sourced from Wiktionary

Source: Wiktionary

knuckle under: Meaning, Examples & Usage (English) | Idiomator