down
68
7.2
- noun
- /daʊn/
- Jargon
:
down
- In American football, a team must advance the ball ten yards within four downs to earn a new set of opportunities.
- first down
I watched two first downs get completed and neither of them count.
- I watched two first downs get completed and neither of them count.
- You want to get a first down and I wasn't afraid to get a first down.
- So he instead of just playing downs, he could have played it like this.
Examples
-
Complete for another first down.
-
A first down at the 19-yard line.
-
That end run is good for another first down.
-
What's better, a first down or a third down?
-
You get four downs in football.
-
St. Francis makes a first down.
-
And he's got a first down for California.
-
Knauer needs a first down to put this game away.
-
Cherubini has not thrown for a first down all season.
-
In overtime, each team got four downs to score, starting from the 10-yard line.
Blog text (4)
Synonyms
1
2.9
A planned move in American football by the team with the ball to move it or score
Idioms
5
5.9
To continue until the last possible moment while the result is not known
- Informal
5
5.9
Reach a point where the result is not decided until the last moment
- Informal
5
8.1
Completely unable to move or continue because of extreme tiredness
- Informal
4
8.2
To suddenly speak angrily and criticize someone for a small mistake
- Informal
2
9.5
Found unprepared and embarrassed when something unexpected happens
- Informal
1
5.9
Make someone feel a sudden strong fear or excitement
- Informal
1
6.0
Cause someone to feel a sudden strong fear or excitement
- Informal
1
6.9
To treat someone badly when they already have problems
- Informal
1
5.9
A sudden feeling of fear or excitement that moves along your back
- Informal
1
8.5
To stop acting like you are better than other people
- Informal
1
8.3
Make someone accept ideas or opinions they do not want by pressuring them
Compounds
- US
70
3.1
A first payment you make when you buy something and pay the rest in later payments
- Specialized
19
3.3
A condition present at birth caused by an extra chromosome that makes learning harder and gives typical physical features
- Informal
16
4.6
Something that is less strong or useful because people change it to avoid problems
- Specialized
4
3.2
A list of options that appears below a menu item so you can choose one
- Specialized
4
6.4
A reduction in the value of something a company owns to show it is now worth less
- Jargon
4
6.3
A temporary pause in military activity to let troops rest and stop being on alert
- Archaic
2
6.4
Workers who stay in their workplace and refuse to leave until the employer meets their demands
- Informal
1
6.1
A severe scolding from someone in charge, often in front of other people
- Specialized
A very small particle inside protons and neutrons with an electric charge of minus one third
- Specialized
A bow movement from the part near your hand toward the tip when playing a string instrument
A large British sheep with a dark face and a thick coat that people keep for meat and wool
- Specialized
A storage where the last thing put in comes out first, like a pile of plates
- Specialized
A device that lowers high electric voltage so appliances work safely
Surface Forms
Etymology
Down in American football comes from the idea that a play ends when the player is 'down' on the ground, so each down is one attempt to move the ball forward.