to get down

Examples

• All

• The constant rain seemed to get down the mood of everyone at the picnic.

• Don't get down on yourself.

  Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009)

• We all have certain things that when we get down on ourselves, we go to.

• Okay, let's not get down on ourselves.

  The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

• "Don't let it get you down, honey," Daddy says.

  Fiction book (1991)

• Whenever you realize that your mind is off someplace else, don't get down on yourself.

  Academic text (1999)

• Understand that everything is not going to be successful and if it isn't, don't get down about it.

  Ed Mylett

• Don't let these people get you down, mate; they just don't like hearing the truth.

  Blog text (20)

• If you allow negative thoughts to control you, they can really get down your spirits.

• It's important to stay positive, even when challenges get down your motivation.

Synonyms

G

to get (someone) down

vsto get down

• Informal

87 4.2

To make someone feel sad or discouraged

is the more general phrase for lowering someone's spirits

S

to sadden

vsto get down

76 2.3

To make someone feel sad

is specifically about lowering morale rather than plain sadness

D

to dismay

vsto get down

37 4.4

Make someone feel shocked or worried by something unexpected

is concerned mainly with making someone feel sad and demoralized

B

to bring down

vsto get down

• Informal

36 4.3

Cause a person or thing to be worse, for example making someone feel sad

is limited to lowering someone's spirits rather than broader negative effects

D

to demoralize

vsto get down

33 6.1

To make someone lose confidence or hope

is narrower, aiming at lowering cheerfulness rather than general morale

D

to depress

vsto get down

32 4.1

To make someone feel sad and lose hope

is milder, focusing on lowered spirits rather than deep hopelessness

W

to weigh down

vsto get down

9 4.9

Make someone feel sad or worried

centres on lowering spirits rather than creating a heavy emotional burden

D

to deject

vsto get down

4 6.5

To make someone feel sad or less hopeful

is less formal and focuses on lowering overall spirits

D

to dampen spirits

vsto get down

2 4.9

Make someone feel less happy and excited

focuses more on causing sadness and demoralization rather than mild cooling

C

to cast down

vsto get down

1 6.3

To make someone feel sad or discouraged

is about reducing cheerfulness rather than sudden discouragement

D

to dispirit

vsto get down

1 7.6

To make someone lose hope or confidence

is more about feeling sad and demoralized than just losing enthusiasm

Antonyms

C

to cheer up

• Informal

234 1.4

To feel happier after being sad or to make someone feel happier

U

to uplift

23 3.2

To make someone feel happier and more hopeful

How Depressing

to demoralize

33 6.1

to depress

32 4.1

to get down

• Informal

22 4.1

to sadden

76 2.3

to upset

362 1.0

to disappoint

492 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology