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bowl down

C1 neutral mixed both
In simple words

To knock something over by rolling into it, or to move quickly down a path or road.

Literal meaning: To roll a bowl (ball) downward, knocking something in its path.

Meanings

1 C1 neutral

To knock something over by hitting it with a rolling or sweeping motion.

"The bowler bowled down all three stumps with a perfect yorker."

Grammar: separable
2 C1 neutral

To move rapidly down a road or path.

"The old van bowled down the country lane, trailing a cloud of dust."

Usage notes

Relatively rare in modern English. The sense of rapid movement down a road is more common in British English and literary writing. The cricketing and bowling sense is the most specific.

Commonly used with

wicket skittles pins road hill path

Forms

Base
bowl down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bowls down
he/she/it
Past simple
bowled down
yesterday
Past participle
bowled down
have + pp
-ing form
bowling down
continuous

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