come down

Idioms  

1. Lose wealth or position, as in After the market crashed, the Tates really came down in the world . A 1382 translation of the Bible by followers of John Wycliffe had this term: “Come down from glory, sit in thirst” (Jeremiah 48:18).

2. Become reduced in size or amount, be lowered, as in Interest rates will have to come down before the economy recovers . [Mid-1600s]

3. Be handed down by inheritance, tradition, or a higher authority. For example, This painting has come down to us from our great-grandparents , or These stories have come down through the generations , or An indictment finally came down . [c. 1400]

4. Also, go down . Happen, occur, as in What's coming down tonight? [ Slang ; 1960s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

come down

Charles Rhodes, professor of law at the University of Missouri, told me the future of this lawsuit will likely come down to how the courts choose to define an “aggrieved” person.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

“The kids, they come down, they chitchat, they rest and it’s just beautiful,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

"I got up, come down and the car is in my hedge."

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

But many cases come down to small oversights — and the people caught off guard are often the ones who thought they had it taken care of.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

“Here’s the spare. The toilet doesn’t work up there, so if you need to go, come down and use the shop’s. And check in with me when you get here tomorrow.”

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy