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Glite Dictionary
to do down

to do down

3 8.6
To say bad things about someone to make them look worse
  • phrasal verb
  • Offensive
translation icon : menospreciar
  • It's unfair to do down someone just to boost your own reputation.

Examples

  • She felt hurt when her coworkers did her down in front of the manager.

  • He always tries to do down his competitors to make himself look better.

  • You're not going to hear me say anything bad about the Peoria Chiefs and the job they do down there.

    Blog text (22)

Synonyms

to take down
vsto do down
  • Informal
144 5.1

To say cruel things to make people think less of someone

focuses on verbal reduction of value rather than public shaming alone
to put down
vsto do down
  • Offensive
55 4.9

To make someone feel unimportant by saying bad things about them

targets a person's worth or reputation rather than only behavior
to demean
vsto do down
53 6.8

To make someone feel less respected or important

is about reducing reputation or worth rather than formal punishment
to denigrate
vsto do down
48 7.8

To say bad things about someone without a good reason to make them seem less important

aims at belittling with unfair negative talk rather than measured critique
to belittle
vsto do down
45 5.0

To make someone or something seem not important

focuses more on reducing value or reputation, often unfairly
to come down
vsto do down
  • Informal
37 5.9

To criticize someone strongly

focuses on belittling and lowering reputation rather than formal scolding
to disparage
vsto do down
28 7.7

To speak badly about someone or something to show little respect

is specifically about lowering value or reputation, not only disrespect
to talk down to
vsto do down
  • Offensive
15 6.6

Speak to someone as if they are less smart or important

focuses on harming status or reputation rather than only tone
to talk down
vsto do down
  • Offensive
14 6.7

To speak to someone as if they are less smart or less important

is about lowering reputation or value rather than showing superiority
to knock down a peg
vsto do down
  • Informal
3 7.6

Make someone feel less proud by criticizing or embarrassing them

is about lowering reputation or value rather than only hurting pride
to cry down
vsto do down
1 7.1

To speak badly about someone or something in public

is similar but emphasizes harming reputation, often unfairly
to call down
vsto do down
  • Informal
1 6.8

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is more about reducing value or reputation, not only harsh rebuke
to cut others down
vsto do down
  • Offensive
7.0

To say things that make other people feel small

aims at reducing someone's value or standing rather than mere disagreement
to put the bad mouth on
vsto do down
  • Informal
9.8

Speak badly about someone or something to other people

is the act of lowering reputation specifically, not casual opinion sharing

Antonyms

compliment
342 1.6

A polite remark that praises someone or something

praise
161 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

How Critical

to vilify
43 7.9
to do down
  • Offensive
3 8.6
to criticize
701 3.3
to comment
589 1.7

Surface Forms

do down infinitive
did down past
done down past participle
doing down present participle
does down third person singular

Morphology

do + down

The particle 'down' carries a negative/reductive sense (to lower, make less) and 'do' is a general verb of action, so a learner could infer a harmful or diminishing action toward someone. However the specific sense 'to criticize or belittle' is not fully predictable from the parts and relies on idiomatic use (similar to 'put down'), so a B1 learner who has not seen the phrase is unlikely to derive the exact meaning reliably.

Etymology

Do down may come from the simple image of someone being pushed or pulled down, where the action do makes them lower so they look smaller. So it came to mean 'to criticize or belittle' — to make a person or thing seem less important or good.