down under 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.