down under

American  

Or Down Under

noun

1. Australia or New Zealand.

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adverb

1. in, to, or into Australia or New Zealand.

down under British  

noun

1. Australia or New Zealand

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adverb

1. in or to Australia or New Zealand

Etymology

Origin of down under

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

The discovery is exciting because it appears to capture an asteroid actively breaking down under intense solar heat.

From Science Daily • May 14, 2026

Substitute Maddison went down under Lukas Nmecha's challenge, but referee Jarred Gillett and the VAR dismissed his appeal for a spot-kick.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

In recent years, however, the bubble has burst, with Gawker being forced to shut down under the weight of lawsuits, Vice Media filing for bankruptcy and Vox Media exploring selling itself off in parts.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

Attention focused on the extraordinary fees—reportedly upward of $250,000 per head—that some stranded expats paid to flee the danger once the Dubai airport, among the world’s busiest until a week ago, shut down under fire.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Throughout the day on May 11, his friends and teammates incessantly begged him to make an effort to come down under his own power.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer