1 B2 idiomatic neutral
to criticize someone severely
"The coach came down on the team for not trying hard enough."
inseparable
come down on
B2 neutral inseparable transitive
to criticize or punish someone strongly
In plain English
to speak to someone angrily or punish them hard
What does "come down on" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
to punish or take strict action against someone or something
"The school came down on bullying with new rules and suspensions."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
to move downward onto someone
Actually means
to speak to someone angrily or punish them hard
Usage tip
Common in speech and news writing. It often suggests authority, strong disapproval, or punishment.
Words that pair with "come down on"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
students employees cheating crime latecomers rule-breakers
How to conjugate "come down on"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
come down on
I/you/we/they
3rd person
comes down on
he/she/it
Past simple
came down on
yesterday
Past participle
come down on
have + pp
-ing form
coming down on
continuous
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