to get down
102
1.8
- phrasal verb
- /ɡɛt daʊn/
:
agacharse
- We were on the couch, but I stopped right then patting her back and got down on the floor.
- get down on one's hands and knees
a video of him getting down on one knee.
- a video of him getting down on one knee.
- So let's go ahead and get down low here.
- Your cat gets down low, they start to stalk, they're hunting.
- Just show me the pose he got down like that.
Examples
-
Take a step into the river and get down on your knees.
-
I'm going to have to get down on my knees and beg this man to forgive me.
Fiction book (2000) -
Baby S loves when we get down on the floor with him and play.
Blog text (21) -
So let's go ahead and get down low here.
-
But a few minutes later, they were told to get down as artillery fire began to whiz over their heads.
Fiction book (1990) -
"Do you think you can get down on the floor?" Jory asked breathlessly.
Fiction book (1994) -
Resignedly, she got down on her knees and picked up every capsule she could find.
Fiction book (1995) -
When the loud siren went off, the teacher told the students to get down under their desks for safety.
-
To avoid the rain, he decided to get down to the ground and take cover under the tree.
-
During the drill, the coach instructed everyone to get down on the field to practice their moves.
Synonyms
149
1.4
To be with your knees on the ground
65
1.8
To lower your body close to the ground by bending your knees and leaning forward
39
7.5
To bend your knees and lower your body close to the ground
34
1.8
To fall from a higher place to a lower place
28
3.4
To bend your knees, lower your body, then stand up
27
2.6
To bend your body forward at the waist
8
6.0
Bend your knees and sit on your heels
3
4.2
To lower your body quickly by bending your knees to avoid being seen or hit
1
4.3
To crouch down close to the ground by bending the knees
1
5.7
To lower your body close to the ground to hide or protect yourself
Antonyms
How Low
221
1.0
102
1.8
149
1.4
65
1.8
27
2.6
194
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
get + down
The literal meanings of 'get' (move/obtain) and 'down' (lower) give a loose metaphorical image of moving into a lower or focused position, but the specific sense 'to begin doing something seriously' (as in 'get down to business') is an extended, conventionalized meaning that is not directly predictable from the parts. This phrase follows a phrasal-verb pattern where the particle adds a metaphorical/figurative nuance, so a B1 learner who knows the words may not reliably infer the intended sense without prior exposure.
Etymology
Get down meaning 'to lower your body to the ground' comes from the action of bending or dropping your body down to hide or kneel, so it now means 'to crouch' or 'go to the ground'.