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Glite Dictionary
to be down with

to be down with

113 8.6
Agree with and support an idea or plan
  • phrasal verb
  • Slang
translation icon : estar de acuerdo con
  • I'm down with your plan to start the new project next week.

You're handed these lists of very severe rules early on, and you can have every intention of being down with that.

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Examples

Synonyms

on board
vsto be down with
210 3.6

Agreeing with and supporting a plan or idea

is the informal way to show the same agreement and support
to side with
vsto be down with
96 3.6

Support a person or group in an argument

supports ideas rather than taking someone's side in disputes
to align
vsto be down with
96 4.2

To agree with and support a group, cause, or way of thinking

means simple agreement rather than deep association or joining
to hold with
vsto be down with
4 8.3

To agree with an idea or way of doing things

is more informal and casual in expressing the same approval

Antonyms

to oppose
∞ 2.9

To be against something and try to stop it

to disagree
∞ 1.0

Have a different opinion from someone

How Supportive

to endorse
183 4.2
to be down with
  • Slang
113 8.6
to support
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

be down with infinitive
was down with past
been down with past participle
being down with present participle
is down with third person singular

Morphology

be + down + with

The preposition 'with' can signal agreement and 'be' marks a state, so part of the meaning ('to be in agreement') is signaled by the constituents; however, 'down' here is an informal metaphorical extension (meaning willing/in favor) that is not a predictable literal meaning for an average B1 learner. Because the agreement sense is partly compositional but relies on a slang/metaphorical use of 'down' that learners often must encounter, the expression is best rated as semi-transparent.

Etymology

Be down with comes from casual slang where down meant 'willing' or 'on the same side'. One popular story says it gives the image of someone sitting or standing down beside others to join them, so to be down with a plan means you 'agree with' it or 'are in favor of' it.