down-to-earth
adjective
practical and realistic.
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down-to-earth
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down to earth
down to earth
Back to reality. For example, It's time the employees were brought down to earth concerning the budget . P.G. Wodehouse had this idiom in Very Good, Jeeves! (1930): “I had for some little time been living . . . in another world. I now came down to earth with a bang.” [Late 1920s]
down-to-earth
American
[doun-too-urth, -tuh-]
/ ˈdaʊn tuˈɜrθ, -tə- /
adjective
down-to-earth
British
adjective
down to earth
Idioms
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Back to reality. For example, It's time the employees were brought down to earth concerning the budget . P.G. Wodehouse had this idiom in Very Good, Jeeves! (1930): “I had for some little time been living . . . in another world. I now came down to earth with a bang.” [Late 1920s]
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Also, down-to-earth . Realistic or interested in everyday occurrences, as in She is a very down-to-earth person, not at all involved with the glamour of Hollywood . [1930s]
Etymology
Origin of down-to-earth
First recorded in 1925–30
Explanation
If you're practical and unpretentious, your friends might describe you as down-to-earth. When a movie star is known for being unassuming and friendly, you can also call them down-to-earth. This adjective has two slightly different meanings, the first of which is "realistic and sensible." You could say that someone who's down-to-earth has a lot of common sense. The second meaning is "modest or unpretentious," like a rock star who drives an old car and shows up at the local library and coffee shop — just like a regular person. Either way, being described as down-to-earth is always a compliment.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His next plan for retirement is very down-to-earth.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026
Along with the masses and institutional events, there have also been multiple meetings with young people where the pope has used more down-to-earth language and spoken about topical issues like mental health.
From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026
The chain, which was founded in London in 1999, says its aim is to "take you to Greece" with its blue and white decor, down-to-earth atmosphere, and hummus and moussaka-laden menu.
From BBC • May 1, 2026
His supporters said he is trying to present himself as down-to-earth and accessible to the workforce.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026
“She’s just always been a goofy and down-to-earth kid. And you know what, it might actually be good for people to see who she is. What you see is what you get with Simone.”
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
