What is the meaning of the phrase ‘Young buck’?
A young person. (Such as an adolescent or teenager, usually to describe a male.)
What is the origin of the phrase ‘Young buck’?
The precise origin of the phrase ‘Young buck’ remains very unclear to this day. Early citations of the phrase appear in The History of Pendennis by William Makepeace Thackeray, dating back to the late 1840s and early 1850s. This was later followed by another citation in The House by the Church Yard by joseph Sheridan Le Fanu.
The term ‘Buck’ means ‘Male deer’. By comparing someone to a ‘Young buck’ as a metaphor, they are typically saying that the person is blessed with youth, and appears to be in good, robust health. The term also implies that the person is enthused, energetic, and in the prime of their life.
While the phrase ‘Young buck’ is most frequently used to refer to males, this is not a strict rule, and it can be considered gender neutral. And it’s also worth pointing out at this point that while the phrase is usually meant as a compliment, there is recorded use of it as an insult, in order to imply that someone is too young, immature or inexperienced.
There has been some discussion about whether or not ‘Buck’ is a term, with racist connotations, since it is believed to have been used in the past in the US to refer to young black slaves. If you ever find yourself in doubt about the appropriate use of the phrase, you may prefer to use an alternative word or phrase, such as ‘Young person’, ‘Young man’, or ‘Youngster’.
What are some notable uses of the phrase ‘Young buck’?
There is an American gangster rap and hip-hop star and songwriter with the stage name ‘Young Buck’. His real name is David Darnell Brown and he was born in 1981. He has been signed under multiple record labels, sometimes with others, and sometimes as a solo artist.
