Buck up

phrase BUCK UP bʌk ʌp

Also spelled buck-up, bux up

To meet or run into someone by chance — to bump into them unexpectedly — and also to knock or stub against something. 'Mi buck up pon him inna town' means I ran into him by surprise, while 'mi buck up mi toe' is I stubbed my toe. Built from 'buck' (to butt or bump), the phrase covers both the happy accident of a chance meeting and the sharp knock of striking against a thing, and it is among the most everyday ways of describing an unplanned encounter.

  • Mi buck up pon mi ole friend a town today.

    I ran into my old friend in town today.

  • Mi buck up mi toe pon di stone.

    I stubbed my toe on the stone.

  • If yuh buck up pon di answer, let mi know.

    If you happen to come across the answer, let me know.

From 'buck' (to butt or knock against) plus 'up' — to knock into, hence to meet by chance.

Chiefly 'buck up pon' = to meet by chance; also literally to knock/stub against something.