camp down
C1 informal inseparable intransitive
In simple words
To set up camp somewhere and stay there, or to tone down overly dramatic behavior.
Literal meaning: To set up a camp and get settled.
Meanings
1 C1 neutral
To set up and settle into a temporary camp, especially for military or outdoor purposes.
"The soldiers camped down in the valley to wait out the storm."
Grammar: inseparable
2 C1
idiomatic
informal
To tone down exaggerated or theatrically flamboyant behavior.
"The director asked the actor to camp it down for the more serious scenes."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
The literal camping sense is less common than 'camp out'. A secondary sense relates to theatrical or performative contexts, meaning to reduce 'camp' behavior (see 'camp it up'). Quite rare.
Commonly used with
troops hikers valley night behavior performance
Forms
Base
camp down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
camps down
he/she/it
Past simple
camped down
yesterday
Past participle
camped down
have + pp
-ing form
camping down
continuous
Understand "camp down" better
Try:
Real video examples
Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.
Want to master this phrasal verb?
Practice "camp down" on Looplines