downhill
B2Informal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
moving or sloping towards a lower place or level; in the direction of the bottom of a hill or slope.
Used metaphorically to describe a process of decline or deterioration; becoming easier or less challenging after reaching a peak of difficulty.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as an adverb, adjective, or (less commonly) noun. The metaphorical sense ('deterioration') is strongly idiomatic. The 'easier' sense is often in the phrase 'it's all downhill from here'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
As a verb, 'downhill' is largely UK-specific (e.g., downhill skiing, downhill mountain biking). In US sports contexts, it's common in skiing/snowboarding. The idiom 'go downhill' (deteriorate) is universal.
Connotations
In the UK, 'downhill' (adj.) can imply a challenging, steep route in sporting contexts. In both, the metaphorical 'downhill' is negative (decline).
Frequency
The metaphorical use ('things went downhill') is slightly more frequent in US corpora, but the difference is marginal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[go/head/slide] downhill[it is] downhill [from here/on][a] downhill [slope/struggle/race]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's all downhill from here (easier).”
- “Go downhill (deteriorate).”
- “A downhill struggle (difficult task).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical: 'After the merger, sales went downhill.'
Academic
Descriptive/technical: 'The study tracked the downhill migration of sediment.'
Everyday
Literal & metaphorical: 'The path is steep downhill.' / 'His health went downhill.'
Technical
Sports science: 'The athlete's downhill velocity was measured.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He loves to downhill on his mountain bike at the weekend.
- They decided to downhill the entire course.
American English
- She downhills competitively in the winter.
- We're going to downhill that trail tomorrow.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The ball rolled downhill.
- We walked downhill to the river.
- After the summit, the trek is mostly downhill.
- His grades started to go downhill last term.
- Once the initial planning is done, the project should be all downhill.
- The company's reputation went steadily downhill after the scandal.
- The downhill trajectory of his career was precipitated by that one ill-advised investment.
- The documentary chronicles the nation's seemingly irreversible downhill slide into autocracy.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a ball rolling DOWN a HILL. It moves DOWNHILL. If something is 'going downhill,' it's rolling away from success, like the ball.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOOD IS UP / BAD IS DOWN. A decline in quality or fortune is moving 'downhill'.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите 'downhill' как 'вниз холма' в идиомах. 'Go downhill' = 'ухудшаться', 'идти под откос'.
- В спортивном контексте (лыжи) 'downhill' — это 'скоростной спуск', а не просто 'с горы'.
- 'It's all downhill from here' может означать как 'дальше будет легко' (после трудного старта), так и 'дальше будет только хуже' (после пика). Контекст решает.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'down the hill' instead of the compound 'downhill' as an adjective/adverb. (Incorrect: 'We walked down the hill slope.' Correct: 'We walked downhill.' / 'We walked down a downhill slope.')
- Confusing the two idiomatic meanings of 'It's all downhill from here' (easier vs. worse).
- Incorrect part of speech: using 'downhill' as a verb in standard English (except in specific sports contexts as a noun/adj).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'It's all downhill from here' typically mean AFTER a difficult start?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As an adverb or adjective, it is one word: 'downhill'. The two-word phrase 'down the hill' is a prepositional phrase.
Yes, in the context of a difficult task being mostly completed ('it's all downhill from here' meaning 'the easy part remains'). Also positively in sports (a 'great downhill run').
It is most frequently used as an adverb ('go downhill') or an adjective ('a downhill slope'). Its use as a noun ('the downhill') is specific to sports like skiing.
'Downhill' implies motion down a slope or incline. 'Downwards' is more general, meaning in a downward direction, not necessarily on a sloped surface.