rinse down
B1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
To use water to clean something by washing it down, or to drink something to help swallow food.
Literal meaning: To rinse something in a downward direction.
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
To clean a surface by washing it with water so that dirt or residue goes down the drain.
"After the barbecue, he rinsed down the patio with a garden hose."
Grammar: separable
2 B1
idiomatic
informal
To drink a liquid to help swallow food, medicine, or something unpleasant.
"She took her vitamins and rinsed them down with a glass of orange juice."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Less common than 'rinse off' or 'wash down'. Used literally for cleaning surfaces (drains, outdoor areas) or figuratively for drinking to help swallow food or pills.
Commonly used with
drain throat surface pills pavement food
Forms
Base
rinse down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
rinses down
he/she/it
Past simple
rinsed down
yesterday
Past participle
rinsed down
have + pp
-ing form
rinsing down
continuous
Understand "rinse down" better
Try:
Real video examples
Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.
Want to master this phrasal verb?
Practice "rinse down" on Looplines