come down on

Idioms  

1. Also, come down upon.

2. Also, come down hard on . Punish or reprimand severely. For example, My professor is going to come down on me for not completing the paper , or The judge promised to come down hard on drug dealers . [Early 1600s] Also see like a ton of bricks .

3. Oppose, voice one's opposition, as in The President came down on the new budget cuts, promising to veto them . [Late 1800s]

4. come down on the side of . Make a choice or decision in favor of, plump for, as in I'll come down on the side of those who are needy .

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Example Sentences

Few studies come down on the side of large-scale job destruction.

From MarketWatch

Luria didn’t outright deny the existence of an AI bubble—but he didn’t come down on one side of the argument, either.

From Barron's

“Eventually, the heat is going to come down on this.”

From The Wall Street Journal

A 2024 report by a state oversight body found that California regulators are late to investigate complaints at treatment facilities or to come down on unlicensed facilities advertising services that require a license.

From The Wall Street Journal

Passengers waiting overnight on the Caledonian Sleeper service were told in the early hours of the morning that they had still not left Glasgow Central because a tree had come down on the line.

From BBC

Related Words

• jump on
• scold