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 .

---

Example Sentences

Pressed by parents to act, school superintendents have come down on opposing sides.

From The Wall Street Journal

Then two slim, strong hands had come down on top of his own, and Allun's voice was calling, "I have you, Marlie," as he heaved her to safety, with the rope that was Bronden's lifeline clutched in her hand.

From Literature

"It's very rocky, and the fossils are in cliffs on the shore. Paleontologists hate excavating in cliffs, because the cliff could come down on you."

From Science Daily

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

Related Words

• jump on
• scold