1 C1 neutral
To knock something over by hitting it with a rolling or sweeping motion.
"The bowler bowled down all three stumps with a perfect yorker."
separable
bowl down
C1 neutral mixed transitive/intransitive
To knock or roll something down with force, or to travel down a road or path rapidly.
In plain English
To knock something over by rolling into it, or to move quickly down a path or road.
What does "bowl down" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 neutral
To move rapidly down a road or path.
"The old van bowled down the country lane, trailing a cloud of dust."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To roll a bowl (ball) downward, knocking something in its path.
Actually means
To knock something over by rolling into it, or to move quickly down a path or road.
Usage tip
Relatively rare in modern English. The sense of rapid movement down a road is more common in British English and literary writing. The cricketing and bowling sense is the most specific.
Words that pair with "bowl down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
wicket skittles pins road hill path
How to conjugate "bowl down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bowl down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
bowls down
he/she/it
Past simple
bowled down
yesterday
Past participle
bowled down
have + pp
-ing form
bowling down
continuous
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