breast down

C1 formal inseparable intransitive

In simple words

to push your way down through something

Literal meaning: The phrase keeps its literal image of using the breast or front of the body while moving downward.

Meanings

1 C1 formal

rare

to move downward while pressing through resistance with the front of the body

"The animal breasted down the muddy bank toward the stream."

Grammar: inseparable

Usage notes

Very rare and literary. Usually found in descriptions of movement through water, snow, or steep ground.

slope bank water current snow hill

Base

breast down

I/you/we/they

3rd person

breasts down

he/she/it

Past simple

breasted down

yesterday

Past participle

breasted down

have + pp

-ing form

breasting down

continuous

Try:

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push down force one's way down make one's way down

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