hoot down
C1 informal separable transitive
In simple words
Stop someone from speaking by laughing at them and making loud, mocking noises
Literal meaning: To make the sound of a hoot (like an owl) directed downward at someone to make them stop
Meanings
1 C1
idiomatic
informal
To silence a speaker or performer by jeering, hooting, and making mocking noises
"The politician was hooted down before he could finish his opening remarks."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Mostly British English. Implies collective ridicule — an audience or group hooting (making owl-like or derisive sounds) to drown out a speaker they disagree with or find ridiculous.
Commonly used with
speaker politician performer audience crowd stage
Forms
Base
hoot down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hoots down
he/she/it
Past simple
hooted down
yesterday
Past participle
hooted down
have + pp
-ing form
hooting down
continuous
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