buckley: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowInformal (idiomatic), archaic, regional
Quick answer
What does “buckley” mean?
A small, rare, Australian marsupial.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, rare, Australian marsupial.
A humorous or emphatic placeholder in idiomatic expressions (e.g., 'Buckley's chance'), slang for a fool, archaic term for a top hat.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
'Buckley's chance' idiom is rare in BrE, not used in AmE. The animal is unknown to most speakers outside Australia.
Connotations
In idiom, implies extreme improbability or no chance at all. The animal connotes rarity.
Frequency
Extremely low globally. 'Buckley's chance' is moderately known in Australia.
Grammar
How to Use “buckley” in a Sentence
has Buckley's chance of (doing something)is as rare as a buckleyVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
'He has Buckley's chance of getting that promotion now.'
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
'You've got two tickets to the final? Buckley's chance!'
Technical
Used only in zoological contexts for the animal.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “buckley”
- Using 'a Buckley's chance' (incorrect, it's 'Buckley's chance').
- Using the idiom outside Australian contexts where it is not understood.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare and mostly confined to Australian English in the idiomatic phrase 'Buckley's chance'.
It is a small, nocturnal marsupial, a type of potoroo, found only in parts of Australia.
No, it is considered informal and colloquial, primarily used in speech.
Its origin is debated but may be from the name of William Buckley, an escaped convict who lived with Aboriginal Australians and was thought to have no chance of survival, or from the Melbourne department store Buckley & Nunn (meaning 'Buckley's or none').
A small, rare, Australian marsupial.
Buckley: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbʌkli/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbʌkli/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Buckley's chance”
- “as rare as a buckley”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'BUCK-lee' like a small buck (deer) that is rare. For the idiom, Buckley rhymes with 'luck? N/A'.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPOSSIBILITY IS A PERSON (Buckley)
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'Buckley's chance' express?