down to the ground Definition

down¹
adverb

1. Towards or in a low or lower position, level or state; on or to the ground.
2. From a greater to a lesser size, amount or level.

Example: scaled down
Example: calm down
3. Towards or in a more southerly place.
4. In writing; on paper.

Example: take down notes
5. As a deposit.

Example: put down five pounds
6. To an end stage or finished state.

Example: hunt someone down
Example: grind down
7. From earlier to later times.

Example: handed down through generations
8. To a state of exhaustion, defeat, etc.

Example: worn down by illness
9. Not vomited up.

Example: keep food down
10. In a crossword: in the vertical direction. Compare across (adverb 10).

Example: 5 down

prep

1. In a lower position on something.
2. Along; at a further position on, by or through.

Example: down the road
3. Along in the direction of the current of a river.
4. From the top to or towards the bottom.
5. dialect
To or in (a particular place).
Example: going down the town

adj

1. Sad; in low spirits.
2. Going towards or reaching a lower position.

Example: a down pipe
3. Made as a deposit.

Example: a down payment
4. Reduced in price.
5. Said of a computer, etc: out of action, especially temporarily.

verb downed, downing

1. To drink something quickly, especially in one gulp.

Thesaurus: drink, gulp, swallow, imbibe.
2. To force someone to the ground.

Thesaurus: fell, floor, defeat, beat, topple, tackle, overthrow, vanquish, nail.

exclamation

1. Used as a command to animals, especially dogs: get or stay down.

noun

1. An unsuccessful or otherwise unpleasant period.

Example: Life has its ups and downs
2. An area of rolling (especially treeless) hills, especially the Downs in southern England.

Form: downs

Idiom: down by

With a deficit (of something specified).
Example: down by three goals

Idiom: down for

Noted; entered in a list, etc.
Example: Your name is down for the hurdles

Idiom: down in the mouth

Depressed.
Thesaurus: depressed, dispirited, crestfallen, melancholy, sad, unhappy, disheartened, dejected.

Idiom: down on one's luck

In unfortunate circumstances; in a bad way.

Idiom: down to the ground

colloq
Completely; perfectly.

Idiom: down tools

colloq
To stop working, as a protest.

Idiom: down under

colloq
In or to Australia and/or New Zealand.

Idiom: down with ...!

Let us get rid of ...!

Idiom: have a down on someone

colloq
To be ill-disposed towards them.

Idiom: up and down

To and fro.

Alternately well and ill.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon of dune from the hill.

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ground¹
noun

1. The solid surface of the Earth, or any part of it; soil; land.

Thesaurus: soil, sand, dirt, earth, clay, sod, turf, terra firma, dust, loam, pitch; area, spot, field, tract, terrain, territory, region.
2. An area of land, usually extensive, attached to or surrounding a building.

Thesaurus: property, lot, territory, domain, tract, habitat, park, surroundings, environs.
Form: grounds (often)
3. An area of land used for a specified purpose.

Example: football ground
4. Distance covered or to be covered.
5. The substance of discussion.

Example: cover a lot of ground
6. A position or standpoint, eg in an argument.

Example: stand or shift one's ground
7. Progress relative to that made by an opponent; advantage.

Example: lose or gain ground
8. A reason or justification.

Thesaurus: basis, premise, motive, rationale, foundation, justification, cause, reason, argument, proof, vindication.
Form: grounds (usually)
9a. art.
The background in a painting;
9b. art.
A surface prepared specially before paint is applied.
(N Amer)
10. elec.
earth (noun 7).
11. Sediment or dregs, especially of coffee.

Form: grounds
12. The bottom of the sea or a river.

verb grounded, grounding

tr & intr
1. To hit or cause (a ship) to hit the seabed or shore and remain stuck.
2. To refuse to allow (a pilot or aeroplane) to fly.
3. To forbid (eg teenagers) to go out socially as a punishment.

Example: Jane's been grounded for coming in late
4. To lay (eg weapons) on the ground.
(N Amer)
5. elec.
To earth (verb 1).

adj

1. On or relating to the ground.

Example: ground forces

Idiom: cut the ground from under someone's feet (take the ground from under someone's feet)

To act in anticipation of someone's plan, etc, destroying its effect.

Idiom: down to the ground

colloq
Absolutely; completely.
Example: suits me down to the ground

Idiom: give ground

To give way; to retreat.
Thesaurus: withdraw, yield, retire, retreat.

Idiom: go to ground

Said of an animal: to go into a burrow to escape from hunters.

To go into hiding, eg from the police.

Idiom: into the ground

To the point of exhaustion; to a position of total defeat.

Idiom: off the ground

Started; under way.
Example: still can't get the project off the ground

Idiom: on firm ground

In a strong position.
Thesaurus: reliable, secure, supported, safe.

Idiom: on shaky ground

In a weak position.

Idiom: on the ground

Amongst ordinary people.
Example: opinion on the ground

Idiom: on the ground floor

On the same terms as the original promoters, or at the start (eg of a business venture).

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon as grund, in sense 12.

Phrasal Verb: ground someone in something

To give them basic instruction in (a subject).

Phrasal Verb: ground something on something else

To base (an argument, complaint, etc) on it.
Example: an argument grounded on logic