unbuckle

Everyday

To unbuckle means to undo a buckle — open the fastening of a belt, strap or seat belt. tree →

In the lessons

Everyday life and safety: in a car, keep your seat belt buckled until the car has stopped and the grown-up says it is safe; then unbuckle and get out on the pavement side. On planes, the «fasten seat belt» sign tells you when you may unbuckle. Also: unbuckle your shoes, your bike helmet strap, a backpack. Phrases: unbuckle your seat belt, unbuckle a belt, unbuckle the strap.

Examples

• Don't unbuckle your seat belt until the car stops. tree →
• I unbuckled my shoes and kicked them off. tree →
• The pilot said we could unbuckle our seat belts. tree →
• Help your little brother unbuckle his car seat. tree →
• Unbuckle your helmet only when you are off the bike. tree →
• The horse rider unbuckled the saddle strap. tree →
• The men unbuckled their knapsacks and filled them with those precious things. tree →

Note

Regular verb: unbuckled, unbuckling. «Un-» means undo or reverse; the opposite is «buckle» or «buckle up». Safety: unbuckling in a moving car is dangerous even for a moment.