dress down
B1 informal mixed both
In simple words
To wear casual clothes instead of smart ones, or to tell someone off in a serious way.
Literal meaning: To dress in a lower (more casual) style.
Meanings
1 A2 informal
To wear informal or casual clothes, often when one might be expected to dress more smartly.
"Fridays are when we get to dress down at the office — I usually wear jeans."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
To reprimand or scold someone severely, usually in a position of authority.
"The general dressed down the officer in front of the entire platoon."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
The clothing sense is now very common due to 'dress-down Friday' (a day when offices allow casual dress). The reprimand sense is slightly formal and often used in a workplace or military context. Both senses are widely used in British and American English.
Commonly used with
Friday casually jeans employee soldier formally
Forms
Base
dress down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
dresses down
he/she/it
Past simple
dressed down
yesterday
Past participle
dressed down
have + pp
-ing form
dressing down
continuous
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