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Glite Dictionary
to plunk down

to plunk down

6 6.7
To put something down so it makes a noise or to pay money quickly
  • phrasal verb
  • /plʌŋk daʊn/
  • Informal
translation icon : dejar caer
  • "Shut up!" Ruth charged over to the desk and plunked down her purse.
  • plunk down money
  • plunk down cash
  • plunk down dollars

Instead of just going wherever the jobs were, we plunked ourselves down and I began looking for work.

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Examples

  • "What's got you so mad?" she asked, plunking down on the bench beside Amy and giving her a questioning look.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Instead of just going wherever the jobs were, we plunked ourselves down and I began looking for work.

    Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

  • Ignoring him, she plunked herself down on the metal chair.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Lloyd and Harry enter and pass each other quietly as they both plunk down in their favorite easy chairs.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • In the employees' cafeteria later in the evening, Wes plunked his tray down next to Sandra.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Tully bumps hard into your knee and then plunks down with a sigh.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • After a long day at work, she plunked down on the couch and sighed in relief.

  • He plunked down the heavy box on the table, causing a loud thud.

  • When they arrived at the picnic site, they plunked down on the grass.

Synonyms

to set down
vsto plunk down
70 1.7

To put something or someone down gently on a surface

is heavier and more abrupt rather than careful or gentle
to flop
vsto plunk down
26 2.3

To fall or sit down heavily and suddenly because you are tired

shares heaviness but is usually more abrupt and noisy
to slam down
vsto plunk down
  • Informal
14 6.0

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

matches force but is more about heavy abrupt placement only
to plunk
vsto plunk down
12 6.0

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

is similar but can be less loudly forceful or more abrupt
to plop
vsto plunk down
12 3.6

To sit or place something down suddenly with a soft sound

is similar but can be louder and more forceful
to clap
vsto plunk down
  • Informal
3 3.0

To put someone or something down quickly and forcefully

is similar in force but more about a noisy heavy drop
to plonk
vsto plunk down
  • UK
2 7.8

To put something down heavily and loudly

matches the heavy noisy action but may be less careless
to place down
vsto plunk down
1 1.7

Put something on a table or chair so it rests

is the opposite in suddenness and often creates a noise
to plump
vsto plunk down
1 4.1

To sit or drop down heavily and suddenly

is close but emphasizes abruptness more than ongoing heaviness
to plank
vsto plunk down
1 7.2

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

focuses more on the heavy sudden motion than carelessness
to plonk down
vsto plunk down
  • UK
1 7.6

Sit or put something down heavily and carelessly

keeps the abrupt heavy action but not necessarily carelessness
to plump down
vsto plunk down
  • UK
7.2

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

is the same abrupt heavy action but not always noisy
to plank down
vsto plunk down
8.0

To put something down hard, often making a loud sound

shares heaviness and noise but is less about carelessness
to flump
vsto plunk down
  • Informal
8.8

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

is more abrupt and may sound sharper rather than dull
to flump down
vsto plunk down
  • Informal
7.5

To sit or fall down suddenly and heavily, often because you are tired

is like this but often less relaxed and more abrupt

How Heavy

to plunk down
  • Informal
6 6.7
to drop
∞ 1.0
to put down
812 1.0
to set down
70 1.7

Surface Forms

plunk down infinitive
plunked down past
plunked down past participle
plunking down present participle
plunks down third person singular

Morphology

plunk + down

The meaning 'to set something or oneself down heavily' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'plunk' (to drop or put down heavily) with 'down' (toward a lower position). This follows a common English verb + particle composition, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Plunk down comes from the sound word plunk, the noise a heavy thing makes when it hits the floor, and down meaning to place. Picture dropping a suitcase with a loud 'plunk'—that's why plunk down means 'to set something or yourself down heavily or suddenly'.