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Buck the trend

Posted by Smokey Stover on April 20, 2008 at 15:09:

In Reply to: Buck the trend posted by Johnathan Lane on April 20, 2008 at 08:58:

: Does anyone know the origin of 'Buck the trend'?

One meanning of the verb, "to buck," is to butt, as an animal with horns (often a buck, or male) will do as one kind of resistance or opposition to another or to an enemy. This is used figuratively in the sense of "to resist or oppose" something, although the notion of butting with one's horns has pretty much disappeared in this figurative use.

Another way to buck does not use horns or butting. Many animals, such as bulls and wild ungulates, will attempt to throw off anyone trying to ride them, by hurling or contorting their bodies. This, too, is a form or resistance or opposition. Trying to ride bucking broncos or bulls is a staple of rodeos--alas!

Hence, bucking a trend is simply resisting or opposing it.
SS

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