buck, n.⁶ — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

buck n.⁶

[SE buck v.]

1. (Aus./N.Z.) a try, an attempt.

1964

H.S. Thompson letter 12 Jan. in Proud Highway (1997) 432: The Gov [John Love] is running a delayed buck.

2. (US prison) a strike.

1969

B. Jackson Thief’s Primer 55: buck: inmate sit-down strike.

fair buck (n.) [sense 1 above]

(N.Z.) a fair chance; usu. as excl.

1988		McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 44/1: fair buck appeal for fairness or reasonable treatment.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. 35: Fair buck! is an appeal to play fair, or an expression of astonishment.

give it a buck (v.) (also have a buck at)

to have a try, to make an attempt at.

1934		Cloncurry Advocate (Qld) 1 Sept. 5/4: in every phase of the sporting sphere / Someone would give it a buck.
1941		Baker Popular Dict. Aus. Sl. 14: Give it a buck, make an attempt at (something); to try. Also, ‘have a buck at’.
1950		Northern Star (Lismore, NSW) 25 Nov. 5/3: He said he would like to take a rest from council duties, and perhaps, in three years time ‘would give it a buck again’.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. 35: In the phrases have a buck at and to give it a buck meaning to try something, maybe daunting.