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

They own refineries and cement plants and hotels, and so it really comes down to money.

From Salon

“The price of eggs may have come down,” said Joanne Hsu, who runs the University of Michigan’s survey of consumer sentiment.

From The Wall Street Journal

Her horse finished 10th out of 12, but a barrier had come down.

From The Wall Street Journal

The wide disparity in estimates from rights groups mostly comes down to methodology.

From The Wall Street Journal

In this lively and welcome translation, the barriers to this important work have come down for American readers, too.

From The Wall Street Journal