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buckets

In basketball: the act of scoring, especially scoring repeatedly.

ˈbʌk.ɪtsCurrent66 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🗺️ Regional & Other
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Seen in the wild
5 citations · last seen May 2026

Seen in the wild

Definitions

#1·Apr 26, 2026

In basketball: the act of scoring, especially scoring repeatedly. "He gets buckets" = he scores easily and often.

"He's been getting buckets all season."
Origin: Basketball slang from streetball/AAU culture; mainstreamed via NBA Twitter and the YouTube/Hot Ones interview where players use it.
For parents

Buckets means: In basketball: the act of scoring, especially scoring repeatedly. "He gets buckets" = he scores easily and often.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. It is sporting vocabulary and harmless in itself. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

buckets means: In basketball: the act of scoring, especially scoring repeatedly. "He gets buckets" = he scores easily and often.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.

Heard in the wild
  • Looks like we have some raccoons in the yard. We're hoping they leave before those white buckets are growing tomatoes!

    Bluesky· May 2026
  • Holy buckets, we need to learn the rules buttecast.com/2026/05/05/h...

    Bluesky· May 2026
  • "Mind. Blown. The Warriors are shooting an INSANE 37% FG on the season (2nd lowest in the league)! Meanwhile, they're still finding ways to get buckets w/ just 6 threes. Can they keep up this efficiency & make a push for the playoffs? #DubNation #NBA"

    Bluesky· May 2026
  • Growing Resilience: Cultivating Mushrooms in Buckets in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda, in the Isingiro #bioregion. An inspiring project led by the Unidos Social Innovation Center

    Bluesky· May 2026
  • My Wellbutrin prescription ran out two weeks ago and I have been to busy to get it refilled. So far, no dead babies crawling on the ceiling or any need for piss and vomit buckets, but I'll keep an eye out

    Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers

Buckets means: In basketball: the act of scoring, especially scoring repeatedly. "He gets buckets" = he scores easily and often.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. It is sporting vocabulary and harmless in itself. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

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