be down

Idioms  

1. Be depressed, in low spirits, as in During the winter months Sue's always down, but spring cheers her up . [ Colloquial ; mid-1800s]

2. Be knowledgeable, canny, or sophisticated, as in He was really down with the new group . This usage probably originated among jazz musicians. [ Slang ; mid-1940s]

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Example Sentences

He said it would be "down to the judges to know whether we'll be part of this case or not", referring to the criminal investigation that has been opened by Swiss prosecutors.

From BBC

It is understood he wants to remain as health minister until the next assembly elections in May 2027 but that decision will be down to his successor.

From BBC

That increase could be down to several factors, including Britain importing slightly less electricity from Europe, lower nuclear generation, the closure of the last coal power station in 2024 and higher electricity demand.

From BBC

A company’s stock also had to be down around 15% or more in 2025 to ensure that there should be some tax-loss selling at year end.

From MarketWatch

More troubling is that 2025’s domestic box-office haul is projected to be down more than 20% compared with 2019, before the pandemic changed audiences’ movie-going habits and turbocharged streaming in ways that the exhibition industry is still grappling with.

From Los Angeles Times