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send down for

C1 informal inseparable transitive
In simple words

When a judge sends someone down for something, it means the person is going to prison because of that crime.

Literal meaning: To physically send a person downward for a reason — loosely evoking old imagery of descending into a cell or dock.

Meanings

1 C1 idiomatic informal

To sentence someone to a term in prison for committing a specific offence.

"The judge sent him down for eight years after he was convicted of armed robbery."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Primarily British English. The particle 'for' introduces the offence or the length of the sentence. Often used in news reporting.

Commonly used with

fraud murder robbery five years life manslaughter

Forms

Base
send down for
I/you/we/they
3rd person
sends down for
he/she/it
Past simple
sent down for
yesterday
Past participle
sent down for
have + pp
-ing form
sending down for
continuous

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Synonyms

send to prison put away lock up jail imprison send down

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