get down

British  

verb

1. (intr; also preposition) to dismount or descend

2. (tr; also preposition) to bring down

   we could not get the wardrobe down the stairs

3. (tr) to write down

4. (tr) to make depressed

   your nagging gets me down

5. (tr) to swallow

   he couldn't get the meal down

6. to attend seriously (to); concentrate (on) (esp in the phrases get down to business or brass tacks )

7. informal (intr) to enjoy oneself uninhibitedly, esp by dancing

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get down Idioms  

1. Descend; bring down; also, swallow. For example, He's getting down from the ladder , or Can you get the cat down from the tree? or I can't seem to get this pill down . [Late 1500s]

2. get down to . Give one's attention to, as in Let's get down to work , or It's time we got down to business . [Late 1800s] For the most important variants, see under get down to brass tacks .

3. get down on . See down on .

4. get someone down . Discourage or depress someone. For example, Don't let Mary's troubles get you down , or Day after day of rain really gets me down . [c. 1930]

5. Describe in writing, as in Can you get down all he's saying?

6. Lose one's inhibitions, enjoy oneself fully. For example, At our reunion we got down with all our old friends . Slang

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Example Sentences

Let’s get down the core of the issues.”

From Los Angeles Times

The 26-year-old then got down one one knee and asked an emotional Lucy to marry him - she said yes.

From BBC

The 34-year-old “Go Crazy” rap star on Tuesday channeled love for his girlfriend, 28, by getting down on one knee and proposing to her on stage during a hometown concert at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.

From Los Angeles Times

Then she recommends getting down to the child's level and helping them feel understood.

From BBC

In the beginning, when we were constructing the dress, I was like, “I’m going to try to get down to that Dior-like silhouette,” which is impossible.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disembark
• get off