Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

knees-buckle

verb
/niːzˈbʌkəl/
Definition
To suddenly lose strength in the knees and fall down, often due to overwhelming emotions or physical weakness.
Examples
  • After hearing the shocking news, her knees buckled, and she had to hold onto the wall to stay upright.
  • During the intense moment in the movie, I was so shocked that my knees almost buckled.
  • He was so exhausted from the marathon that he felt his knees buckle as he crossed the finish line.
Meaning
When someone’s knees buckle, they are unable to support their weight, typically due to a strong reaction such as fear, surprise, or exhaustion.
Synonyms
  • collapse
  • fall
  • give way