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[buckle] See: BUCKLE DOWN or KNUCKLE DOWN.

[buckle down] or [knuckle down]{v.} To give complete attention (to an effort or job); attend. •/They chatted idly for a few moments then each buckled down to work./ •/Jim was fooling instead of studying; so his father told him to buckle down./

[buck passer], [buck-passing] See: PASS THE BUCK.

[buck up]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make or become more cheerful; make or become free from discouragement; become more hopeful. •/After the heavy rain, the scoutmaster bucked up the boys by leading them in a song./ •/Tom was disappointed that he didn’t make the team; but he soon bucked up./

[bud] See: NIP IN THE BUD.

[bug-eyed]{adj.}, {slang} Wide-eyed with surprise. •/He stood there bug-eyed when told that he had won the award./

[buggy-whip]{n.}, {slang} An unusually long, thin radio antenna on a car that bends back like a whip when the car moves fast. •/He’s very impressed with himself ever since he got a buggy whip./

[bughouse(1)]{n.}, {slang} An insane asylum. •/They took Joe to the bughouse./

[bughouse(2)]{adj.}, {slang} Crazy, insane. •/Joe’s gone bughouse./

[bug in one’s ear]{n. phr.}, {informal} A hint; secret information given to someone to make him act; idea. •/I saw Mary at the jeweler’s admiring the diamond pin; I’ll put a bug in Henry’s ear./

[build] See: JERRY-BUILT.

[build a fire under]{v. phr.} To urge or force (a slow or unwilling person) to action; get (someone) moving; arouse. •/The health department built a fire under the restaurant owner and got him to clean the place up by threatening to cancel his license./

[build castles in the air] or [build castles in Spain]{v. phr.} To make impossible or imaginary plans, dream about future successes that are unlikely. •/He liked to build castles in the air, but never succeeded in anything./ •/To build castles in Spain is natural for young people and they may work hard enough to get part of their wishes./

[build on sand]{v. phr.} To lay a weak or insufficient foundation for a building, a business, or a relationship. •/"I don’t want to build my business on sand," John said, "so please. Dad, give me that loan I requested."/

[build up]{v.} 1. To make out of separate pieces or layers; construct from parts. •/Johnny built up a fort out of large balls of snow./ •/Lois built up a cake of three layers./ 2. To cover over or fill up with buildings. •/The fields where Tom’s father played as a boy are all built up now./ •/A driver should slow down when he comes to an area that is built up./ 3a. To increase slowly or by small amounts; grow. •/John built up a bank account by saving regularly./ •/The noise built up until Mary couldn’t stand it any longer./ 3b. To make stronger or better or more effective. •/Fred exercised to build up his muscles./ •/Joanne was studying to build up her algebra./ 3c. {informal} To advertise quickly and publicize so as to make famous. •/The press agent built up the young actress./ •/The movie company spent much money building up its new picture./

[build up to]{v. phr.} To be in the process of reaching a culmination point. •/The clouds were building up to a violent storm./ •/Their heated words were building up to a premature divorce./

[bull] See: HIT THE BULLS-EYE, SHOOT THE BREEZE or SHOOT THE BULL, TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS.

[bullet lane]{n.}, {slang}, {citizen’s band radio jargon} The passing lane. •/Move over into the bullet lane, this eighteen wheeler is moving too slow./

[bull in a china shop]{n. phr.} A rough or clumsy person who says or does something to anger others or upset plans; a tactless person. •/We were talking politely and carefully with the teacher about a class party, but John came in like a bull in a china shop and his rough talk made the teacher say no./

[bull session]{n.}, {slang} A long informal talk about something by a group of persons. •/After the game the boys in the dormitory had a bull session until the lights went out./

[bullshit]{n.}, {vulgar, but gaining in acceptance by some} Exaggerated or insincere talk meant to impress others. •/"Joe, this is a lot of bullshit!"/

[bullshit]{v.}, {vulgar to informal}, {gaining in social acceptance by some} To exaggerate or talk insincerely in an effort to make yourself seem impressive. •/"Stop bullshitting me, Joe, I can’t believe a word of what you’re saying."/

[bullshit artist]{n.}, {slang}, {vulgar, but gaining in social acceptance} A person who habitually makes exaggerated or insincerely flattering speeches designed to impress others. •/Joe is a regular bullshit artist, small wonder he keeps gettine promoted ahead of everyone else./

[bum around]{v. phr.}, {slang} To aimlessly wander in no definite direction, like a vagabond. •/Jim had been bumming around in the desert for three days and nights before he was able to remember how he got there in the first place./

[bump] See: GOOSE BUMPS.

[bump into]{v.}, {informal} To meet without expecting to; happen to meet; come upon by accident. •/Mary was walking down the street, when she suddenly bumped into Joan./ •/Ed was surprised to bump into John at the football game./ Syn.: RUN INTO.

[bump off]{v.}, {slang} To kill in a violent way; murder in gangster fashion. •/Hoodlums in a speeding car bumped him off with Tommy guns./