go down

To move from a higher place to a lower place.

• Go down the stairs slowly.
• We went down to the river.
• Is this lift going down?

How to use it: go down to somewhere (We went down to the basement.); go down something (Go down the steps carefully.)

Similar words: descend

Opposites: go up

Common phrases: go down stairs, go down below

To become smaller or lower in amount, price, or level.

• Prices have gone down.
• Her temperature went down during the night.
• Will the unemployment rate go down this year?

How to use it: go down by an amount (The price went down by ten pounds.); go down to an amount (The temperature went down to five degrees.)

Similar words: fall, decrease, drop

Opposites: rise, increase

Common phrases: go down slightly, go down again

To receive a particular reaction from people.

• The joke went down well.
• Her suggestion went down badly with the team.
• How did the news go down with your parents?

How to use it: go down well/badly with someone (The changes went down badly with staff.)

Similar words: be received

Common phrases: go down well, go down badly

To fall to the ground, often after being hit or losing your balance.

• The boxer went down.
• She slipped on the ice and went down hard.
• Two players went down after the tackle.

Similar words: fall, fall over

Opposites: get up

Common phrases: go down hard, go down injured

To be enjoyable or easy to eat or drink.

• That cold drink went down well.
• The warm soup went down easily after our walk.
• A slice of cake would go down nicely now.

Common phrases: go down well, go down easily

To be blamed or sent to prison for something.

• He went down for fraud.
• The boss let his assistant go down for the theft.
• Two gang members went down for five years each.

How to use it: go down for something (He went down for robbery.); go down for a period (She went down for three years.)

Similar words: take the blame, be imprisoned

Common phrases: go down alone, go down together