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to jot down

to jot down

27 2.9
To write a short note quickly to remember something
  • phrasal verb
  • /dʒɑt daʊn/
  • Informal
translation icon : apuntar
  • Make sure to jot down your thoughts before you forget them.
  • jot down ideas
  • jotted down notes
  • jot down thoughts

And just from listening all day, I sort of jotted down a few things.

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Examples

  • Take a piece of paper and jot down your answers.

    Academic text (2009)
  • So if you're looking to seriously take notes, jot down some To Do List or you know, just be really productive and not be distracted.

  • And just from listening all day, I sort of jotted down a few things.

  • So I hope you guys do try it out and jot down any comments down below.

  • You might wanna jot that down in your book.

  • I was just gonna jot down a note.

  • Why don't you just jot down the dollar amount here?

  • Fred confirmed the address on Pearl Street and jotted down the names of graduate advisers.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • I chatted with him, asking loads of questions and jotting down notes.

    Academic text (2007)
  • I love how you're always jotting down ideas for your book in your little notepad.

Synonyms

to write
vsto jot down
1.0

Put letters and words onto a surface using a pen or keyboard

is a quick short way to note things rather than broad longer texts
to note
vsto jot down
158 1.3

To write something down so you do not forget it

is used for very quick brief reminders rather than full records
to put down
vsto jot down
117 2.4

To write something so you do not forget it

is faster and briefer often serving as a quick reminder
to get down
vsto jot down
52 3.4

To write something down on paper or a screen

is used for short quick notes rather than full written compositions
to take down
vsto jot down
30 3.4

To write something so you can remember it

is informal and brief used for quick notes rather than official records
to set down
vsto jot down
13 3.8

To write words or information so they are recorded

is brief and quick not used for formal or full records
to jot
vsto jot down
8 3.9

To write something quickly as a short note

is the same in meaning but usually appears as a two word phrase
to handwrite
vsto jot down
2 3.4

Write something by hand instead of typing it

is quick and brief while that focuses on the physical method rather than speed
to dash down
vsto jot down
1 4.4

To write something quickly without much care

is quick and brief but done with normal care and attention
to pen in
vsto jot down
1 4.2

To write down an idea, plan, or appointment

is typically informal and brief while this records plans or goals

How Quickly

to jot down
  • Informal
27 2.9
to scribble
55 3.5
to write down
214 1.1
to record
762 2.3

Surface Forms

jot down infinitive
jotted down past participle
jotting down present participle
jots down third person singular

Morphology

jot + down

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from the constituents: 'jot' already means to make a short quick written note, and the particle 'down' adds the sense of recording/writing it down. This verb+particle composition is a common, predictable pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the words would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Jot down The verb jot down comes from the idea of making a very small mark or quick note. One popular story says the word jot comes from a tiny Greek letter called 'iota', so to jot down was to make a small, quick mark on paper, and that's why it now means 'to write something quickly and briefly'.