down

Everyday

1. Down means toward a lower place. You walk down the stairs. tree →
2. Down means less or lower in amount, like prices going down. tree →
3. Down can mean along: walk down the road. tree →
4. Feeling down means feeling sad. tree →
5. Down is the soft fluffy feathers of young birds. tree →
6. Write down means put on paper. tree →
7. Down means not working: «the internet is down». tree →
8. (casual) «I'm down» or «down for it» (US slang) means I agree, I'll join; «down to you» means your choice; «down under» means Australia and NZ. tree →
9. (rude) «Put someone down» is to make them feel small; «shut it down» and «pipe down» mean be quiet. tree →
10. (euphemism) «Downsizing» means sacking workers; «let someone down» means disappoint them. tree →
11. (formal) Exams say «decrease», «decline», «diminish», «descend», «reduce», «a reduction of» and «in a downward direction». tree →
12. To settle down means to make your home somewhere and stay there for good. tree →

In the lessons

maths: going lower: prices or temperatures going down, walking down a road, writing down a number; «down by n» subtracts, «down to n» gives the new amount; rounding down; science: things fall down because of gravity; ducklings have down; everyday life: sit down, calm down, slow down; phrases: «down the road», «upside down», «count down», «down payment»; in casual talk «u down?», «down under», «chill down», «it's down to you»; in rough talk «pipe down», «sit down and shut up»; in the exam voice «the temperature declines by 3 degrees», «decreases to 2 degrees», «a reduction of 3 dollars»

Examples

• The price went down by $3. tree →
• The temperature dropped down to 2 degrees. tree →
• She walked 5 blocks down the street. tree →
• Write down the answer. tree →
• Please sit down. tree →
• Slow down near the school. tree →
• He felt down after losing the game. tree →
• Ducklings are covered in soft down. tree →
• Count down from ten to zero. tree →
• footy at 4, u down? we need 2 more. tree →
• Pipe down, I'm counting the money! tree →
• The temperature, initially 9 degrees, declines by 3 degrees and subsequently by a further 2 degrees. State the final temperature. tree →
• He was settled down for good. tree →

Note

«Goes down by n» means subtract n; «down to n» gives the new amount. Trap: «by» and «to» are different: down by 3 subtracts 3, down to 3 means it is now 3. «declines by» and «decreases by» in an exam also subtract; «decreases to» gives the new amount. «I'm down» in slang means I agree, with no number meaning. Round down means go to the lower number.

In Jewish tradition

Used in phrases like "bowed down", meaning to bend low in respect, thanks or worship, often before a person or God. It also means toward a lower place, as in "go down," and "tread down" means to crush enemies.

Interpretation. Bowing low is a sign of honor and humility. Jewish tradition keeps bowing in prayer, but forbids bowing in worship to anyone but God. Mordecai's refusal to bow down to Haman is read as loyalty to God alone.

Examples

• And Israel bowed down upon the bed's head. (Torah GEN.47.31, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. (Torah GEN.23.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• Let peoples serve thee, and nations bow down to thee. (Torah GEN.27.29, JPS 1917) tree →
• O my soul, tread them down with strength. (Prophets JDG.5.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• Go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised. (Prophets EZK.32.19, JPS 1917) tree →
• But Mordecai bowed not down, nor prostrated himself before him. (Writings EST.3.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«Goes down by n» means subtract n; «down to n» gives the new amount. Trap: «by» and «to» are different: down by 3 subtracts 3, down to 3 means it is now 3. «declines by» and «decreases by» in an exam also subtract; «decreases to» gives the new amount. «I'm down» in slang means I agree, with no number meaning. Round down means go to the lower number.