come down on
English
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
Audio (US): (file)
Verb
come down on (third-person singular simple present comes down on, present participle coming down on, simple past came down on, past participle come down on)
- (transitive) To punish or criticize (someone).
- Synonyms: excoriate, reprimand; castigate, chastise; see also Thesaurus:criticize, Thesaurus:punish
- The company came down on him very hard after he was found skipping work.
- (transitive, slang, African-American Vernacular) To attack or harass (someone).
- Synonyms: beset, lay into, set upon; see also Thesaurus:attack
- (transitive) To pressure (someone or something); to strictly enforce something on (someone or something).
- (transitive) To cause melancholy in (someone).
- Synonyms: bring down, depress, dispirit; see also Thesaurus:sadden