no bucks, no Buck Rogers

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

One must raise money to be able to achieve one's objectives, especially in the exploration of outer space.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Whether NASA under Trump will stay the course . . . an old adage attributed to its first human spaceflights of the 1960s is likely to define its fate: no bucks, no Buck Rogers.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “no bucks, no Buck Rogers” mean?

One must raise money to be able to achieve one's objectives, especially in the exploration of outer space.

Is “no bucks, no Buck Rogers” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.