knuckle under
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle under
Meanings
Submit to authority or pressure
Why “under”? Something goes below the surface.
“He refused to knuckle under to threats.”
“Maya would not knuckle under to pressure from the board.”
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“He refused to knuckle under to threats.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
be snowed under
Same under pattern: submersion
Be overwhelmed with too much work or correspondence
bring under
Same under pattern: submersion
Bring something under control
buckle under
Same under pattern: submersion
Yield or break under strain; Give in to pressure to do something
cave under
Same under pattern: submersion
Collapse beneath weight or pressure
duck under
Same under pattern: submersion
Lower the head or body to pass beneath something
go under
Same under pattern: submersion
Fail completely as a business or project
keep under
Same under pattern: submersion
Keep something controlled or suppressed
pull under
Same under pattern: submersion
Drag something or someone beneath the surface
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