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to plank down

to plank down

8.0
To put something down hard, often making a loud sound
  • phrasal verb
  • /plæŋk daʊn/
translation icon : dejar caer
  • He planked down the box on the table with a loud thud.

Examples

  • Without a word, he planked down the stack of books on my desk.

  • Tired after the journey, she planked down her suitcase in the hallway.

  • Don't plank down that heavy box!

  • She planked down her bag on the table.

  • He planked down the box on the floor, making a loud noise.

  • After a long day, she planked down her heavy backpack with a sigh.

  • Without hesitation, he planked down the pile of documents onto the desk.

Synonyms

to drop
vsto plank down
1.0

To let something fall suddenly or by accident

is a heavy careless placement, not only accidental falling
to set down
vsto plank down
70 1.7

To put something or someone down gently on a surface

is heavy and careless placing rather than gentle careful setting
flop
vsto plank down
28 3.5

A sudden heavy fall onto something that makes a soft sound

is more about careless heavy placement making a louder noise
to slam down
vsto plank down
  • Informal
14 6.0

Put something down hard so it makes a loud noise or quickly drink something

is careless heavy placing rather than deliberate forceful impact
to plunk
vsto plank down
12 6.0

To put down something or sit down heavily so it makes a loud sound

emphasizes careless heavy placement with loudness rather than gentle handling
to plop
vsto plank down
12 3.6

To sit or place something down suddenly with a soft sound

is heavier and more careless, usually louder than this
to plunk down
vsto plank down
  • Informal
6 6.7

To put something down so it makes a noise or to pay money quickly

is heavy and careless, not gentle or precise
to plonk
vsto plank down
  • UK
2 7.8

To put something down heavily and loudly

is heavy and careless with noise, not careful placement
to plump
vsto plank down
1 4.1

To sit or drop down heavily and suddenly

is heavy and sudden but also implies careless handling
to plank
vsto plank down
1 7.2

To drop something or yourself down heavily, often making a noise

is more careless and noisy rather than gentle
to plonk down
vsto plank down
  • UK
1 7.6

Sit or put something down heavily and carelessly

shows the same careless heaviness but often includes noise
to plump down
vsto plank down
  • UK
7.2

To put something or yourself down suddenly and heavily, often making a noise

shares heavy suddenness but stresses carelessness and loudness
to flump
vsto plank down
  • Informal
8.8

To fall or put something down heavily so it makes a dull sound

is more about careless dropping with louder noise than dull thud

Antonyms

834 1.0

To lift something or someone from the ground with your hands

70 1.7

To put something or someone down gently on a surface

How Heavily

to plank down
8.0
to drop
1.0
to chuck
  • Informal
57 4.2
to put down
812 1.0
to set down
70 1.7

Surface Forms

plank down infinitive
planked down past participle
planking down present participle
planks down third person singular

Morphology

plank + down

The MWE meaning ‘to put or drop something down heavily’ is directly built from the verb 'plank' (to place or drop abruptly/noisily) plus the directional particle 'down', so a learner who knows both constituents can compositionally infer the sense. Although 'plank' as a verb is less frequent, the verb + down pattern is a common, transparent motion/placement construction across languages, making this readily comprehensible to B1 learners who know the parts.

Etymology

Plank down may come from the picture of dropping a heavy wooden plank so it falls down with a loud thud. That's why it means 'to put something down heavily or carelessly'.