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get down

A2 neutral separable both
In simple words

To move lower, to write something, to feel sad, or to dance.

Literal meaning: To move your body to a lower position — most senses extend naturally from this physical meaning.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To move to a lower position or to cause someone/something to move lower.

"Get down from that wall — you'll hurt yourself!"

"Get down, Mr. President!"

— Common dramatic line in political thrillers; most famously parodied in pop culture
2 A2 neutral

To write or record something.

"Let me get your number down before I forget it."

Grammar: separable
3 B1 idiomatic informal

To make someone feel sad or depressed.

"All this grey weather is really getting me down."

"I get knocked down, but I get up again."

— Chumbawamba, 'Tubthumping' (1997)
Grammar: separable
4 B2 idiomatic slang

To dance enthusiastically. (Informal, originally American)

"The whole crowd started getting down when the DJ played the old hits."

"Get down tonight."

— KC and the Sunshine Band, 'Get Down Tonight' (1975)
Usage notes

The dancing sense ('get down') is American informal slang from the 1970s and is still used today. The depression sense is transitive: 'This weather gets me down.' 'Get it down' means to record or write something.

Commonly used with

floor notes number party weather knees

Forms

Base
get down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
gets down
he/she/it
Past simple
got down
yesterday
Past participle
got/gotten down
have + pp
-ing form
getting down
continuous

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Synonyms

descend lower oneself write down note down depress dance

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