jaw down

C1 informal inseparable transitive

In simple words

talk to someone like they are lower than you

Literal meaning: To move the jaw downward at someone.

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic informal

rare

To speak down to someone in a scolding or patronizing manner.

"The manager had a habit of jawing down at new workers."

Grammar: inseparable

Usage notes

Very rare and dialectal; not common in standard modern English.

employees kids staff someone younger

Base

jaw down

I/you/we/they

3rd person

jaws down

he/she/it

Past simple

jawed down

yesterday

Past participle

jawed down

have + pp

-ing form

jawing down

continuous

Try:

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talk down to lecture scold chew out patronize

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