come down on

phrasal-verb
UK: /ˌkʌm ˈdaʊn ɒn/
US: /ˌkʌm ˈdaʊn ɑːn/

  1. To criticize someone severely for doing something wrong

    1. The teacher will come down on you if you don't do your homework.
    2. The boss really came down on me for being late to the meeting this morning and he wasn't happy.

  2. To give a particular judgment or sentence

    1. The judge will come down on the defendant.
    2. How is the court going to come down on such a sensitive case involving so many prominent figures?

Synonyms

reprimand scold berate censure

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "come down on" in English means: To criticize someone severely for doing something wrong, To give a particular judgment or sentence.

The phonetic transcription of "come down on" is /ˌkʌm ˈdaʊn ɒn/ in British English and /ˌkʌm ˈdaʊn ɑːn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "come down on": reprimand, scold, berate, censure.

Example usage of "come down on": "The teacher will come down on you if you don't do your homework.". More examples on the page.