plead down
C1 formal separable transitive
In simple words
To get a serious crime charge changed to a less serious one by making a deal with the prosecutor.
Literal meaning: To plead in a way that brings something down (i.e., reduces it).
Meanings
1 C1 formal
(Legal, chiefly US) To negotiate with a prosecutor to have a serious charge reduced to a lesser one.
"His lawyer managed to plead the felony charge down to a misdemeanor."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Legal jargon, primarily used in American English in the context of the criminal justice system. The object is typically the charge: 'plead the charge down' or 'plead it down to a misdemeanor.'
Commonly used with
charge felony misdemeanor count offense case
Forms
Base
plead down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
pleads down
he/she/it
Past simple
pleaded down
yesterday
Past participle
pleaded down
have + pp
-ing form
pleading down
continuous
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