1 B1 neutral
To swallow a drink quickly or in a single motion, especially something unpleasant.
"She held her nose and drank down the bitter cough syrup."
separable
drink down
B1 neutral separable transitive
To swallow a drink quickly or in one go, often something unpleasant.
In plain English
Swallow a drink all at once, especially when it tastes bad or you need to do it fast.
What does "drink down" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To finish an entire drink completely.
"He drank down the last of his coffee and headed for the door."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To send a drink downward into the throat and stomach.
Actually means
Swallow a drink all at once, especially when it tastes bad or you need to do it fast.
Usage tip
Often used when the drink is medicine, something bitter, or something the speaker wants to finish quickly. Less common than 'drink up' or 'gulp down'.
Words that pair with "drink down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
medicine potion tonic glass dose liquid
How to conjugate "drink down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
drink down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
drinks down
he/she/it
Past simple
drank down
yesterday
Past participle
drunk down
have + pp
-ing form
drinking down
continuous
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