send down: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium frequency in UK contexts; low frequency in US contexts.Informal, primarily British legal/colloquial.
Quick answer
What does “send down” mean?
To cause someone to go to prison.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To cause someone to go to prison; to expel from university (UK specific).
A phrasal verb with legal and academic disciplinary connotations; primarily used in British English for incarceration and university expulsion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK: Common for prison/university expulsion. US: Rare for prison; 'send to prison' preferred. Literal 'send downstairs' possible in both.
Connotations
UK: Strong judicial/disciplinary weight. US: Neutral if used literally.
Frequency
High in UK news/court reports; low in US except literal use.
Grammar
How to Use “send down” in a Sentence
[Subject] send [Object] down (for [duration/crime])[Subject] get sent down (by [authority])Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “send down” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The judge sent him down for five years.
- The university sent him down for cheating.
American English
- Can you send down the package from the attic?
- They sent down reinforcements.
adverb
British English
- (Not used as adverb)
American English
- (Not used as adverb)
adjective
British English
- He's a sent-down convict.
- (Rare as adjective)
American English
- (Not used as adjective in US)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in UK context about employee legal issues.
Academic
UK: University expulsion. US: Not used academically.
Everyday
UK: Common in news about crime. US: Literal 'send downstairs'.
Technical
Legal (UK), penal system.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “send down”
- Using 'send down' in US for prison (sounds odd).
- Using without object: 'He sent down' (needs object: 'He was sent down').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Americans say 'send to prison' or 'jail'. 'Send down' sounds British.
No, US uses 'expel' or 'kick out'. 'Send down' is a UK university tradition.
'Release' or 'let out'. In university sense: 'admit' or 'matriculate'.
Informal/coloquial in legal contexts, but standard in UK journalism and speech.
To cause someone to go to prison.
Send down: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsend ˈdaʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɛnd ˈdaʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sent down for a long stretch”
- “Sent down from Oxbridge”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Judge sends a person DOWN to the cell below the court.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE IS VERTICAL (down = punishment, loss of freedom).
Practice
Quiz
In American English, 'send down' is most commonly used to mean: