go down
C1 (High frequency, multi-sense phrasal verb)All registers (informal, formal, technical)
Definition
Meaning
to move from a higher to a lower position or level.
To descend; to decrease; to be received or accepted in a specified way; (of a computer system) to cease functioning; to be recorded or remembered; (slang) to happen.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Highly polysemous phrasal verb. The sense shifts dramatically based on context (spatial, evaluative, technological, social). Often used metaphorically.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The phrase "go down a storm" (to be very successful) is primarily British. In American English, "go down" for 'happen' ("What's going down?") is more informal/slang. In computing, "go down" is universal.
Connotations
In British English, "it didn't go down well" is a common idiomatic critique. In sports, "go down" (lose a match) is neutral in both.
Frequency
Frequency of use is very high in both varieties. The technological sense (server goes down) is equally common.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + go down + (prepositional phrase/adverb)[Subject] + go down + as + noun phrase[Subject] + go down + with + noun phraseVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “go down in flames”
- “go down the tubes”
- “go down a storm”
- “go down like a lead balloon”
- “go down the rabbit hole”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"If our sales go down this quarter, we'll need a new strategy."
Academic
"The experiment was meticulous and will go down as a landmark study."
Everyday
"The sun goes down around six o'clock." "My proposal didn't go down well with the team."
Technical
"The network went down for three hours due to a power surge."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The lift is going down to the ground floor.
- His comments went down very badly indeed.
- She's gone down with a nasty cold.
American English
- Let's go down to the lobby.
- The website went down during the sale.
- He'll go down as one of the greats.
adverb
British English
- He headed down the street. (Note: 'down' used adverbially).
American English
- The ship went down fast. (Note: 'down' used adverbially).
adjective
British English
- The down-going elevator was full.
- A down-going trend in voter turnout.
American English
- The downtown area (note: 'down' is part of a compound, not directly from the phrasal verb).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The balloon went down slowly.
- The sun goes down in the evening.
- I hope the price of bread goes down soon.
- He went down the stairs to answer the door.
- The government's popularity has gone down significantly.
- If the server goes down, all our work will be lost.
- Her performance went down a storm with the critics.
- This day will go down in the annals of the company as a turning point.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a sinking ship: It GOES DOWN into the water (movement), its value GOES DOWN (decrease), and the event GOES DOWN in history (recording).
Conceptual Metaphor
BAD IS DOWN ("prices went down" = good for buyer, bad for seller), EVENTS ARE TRAVELS ("what's going down?"), STATUS IS VERTICAL POSITION ("he went down in my estimation").
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not literally translate "go down" as "идти вниз" for abstract senses (e.g., 'the system went down' is "система упала/перестала работать").
- "Go down well" does not mean идти хорошо; it means "быть хорошо принятым".
- The sexual slang meaning of "go down (on)" is a specific, common trap.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect preposition: 'go down in' history, but 'go down with' flu.
- Using it transitively: *'He went down the price' (incorrect). Correct: 'The price went down.'
- Confusing 'go down' (intransitive) with 'take down' (transitive).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence does 'go down' mean 'to be received or accepted'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'go down' is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot put an object between 'go' and 'down' (e.g., you cannot say 'go it down').
It relates to perspective. 'Go down' implies movement away from the speaker's position or perspective. 'Come down' implies movement toward the speaker's position (e.g., 'Come down here!' vs. 'I'll go down there').
Yes, but it depends on the sense. Senses like 'decrease,' 'descend,' and 'be recorded' are suitable for formal contexts (e.g., 'prices went down,' 'go down in history'). Slang senses (e.g., 'what's going down?') are not.
Context is everything. Look at the subject (sun, prices, computer, person) and any following prepositions ('with' illness, 'in' history, 'as' a hero). The surrounding words provide strong clues.