In 15 Seconds
- Apply physical pressure to move something toward the ground.
- Commonly used for buttons, levers, trash, and spring-loaded objects.
- Follows a simple 'Verb + Object + Down' or 'Verb + Down + Object' structure.
Meaning
It means using your hand or weight to move something toward the ground. Think of it like closing a overflowing suitcase or using a soap dispenser.
Key Examples
3 of 6Making morning coffee
You need to push down the plunger slowly on the French press.
You need to push down the plunger slowly on the French press.
At the doctor's office
Can you push down on my hands with your feet?
Can you push down on my hands with your feet?
Packing a suitcase
If you push down on the clothes, we can zip it shut!
If you push down on the clothes, we can zip it shut!
Cultural Background
The 'Stiff Upper Lip' is a famous British cultural trait where people 'push down' their emotions to remain calm and stoic in difficult situations. In American consumer culture, 'pushing down prices' is a key marketing phrase used by big retailers like Walmart to show they are fighting for the customer. The concept of 'Gaman' (enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity) often involves 'pushing down' personal desires or complaints for the good of the group. German engineering often focuses on the tactile feedback of 'pushing down' buttons and levers, valuing precision and a firm feel in mechanical design.
The 'It' Rule
Always remember: 'Push it down.' Never 'Push down it.' This is the most common mistake for A2 learners.
Don't be too forceful
In emotional contexts, telling someone to 'push down their feelings' can be seen as bad advice. Use 'manage' or 'deal with' instead.
In 15 Seconds
- Apply physical pressure to move something toward the ground.
- Commonly used for buttons, levers, trash, and spring-loaded objects.
- Follows a simple 'Verb + Object + Down' or 'Verb + Down + Object' structure.
What It Means
Push down is a very physical phrase. It describes moving an object vertically toward the floor. You use force to make something flatter or lower. It is simple but essential for daily life. Imagine trying to fit too many clothes in a drawer. You have to push down on the pile to close it. It is about physical pressure and direction.
How To Use It
You can use it with many objects. You can push down a lever, a button, or even trash in a bin. Usually, you put the object in the middle: push the handle down. Or you can keep it together: push down the handle. Both are perfectly fine. It is a very active verb. It implies you are using some effort to get a result.
When To Use It
Use it whenever you are giving instructions. It is common in kitchens, like when using a French press coffee maker. Use it at the gym when talking about equipment. You will hear it at the doctor's office too. "Please push down on my hand with your foot," they might say. It is also great for DIY projects or fixing things around the house. If a lid won't close, tell your friend to push down harder!
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for emotional things usually. We don't say "push down your sadness" often; we usually say "suppress" or "hide." Also, don't confuse it with push over. Push over means making something fall sideways. Push down is strictly vertical. If you are at a door, don't push down unless it has a specific handle. Most doors just require a push forward.
Cultural Background
In Western cultures, this phrase is tied to the "can-do" attitude of fixing things. We have many gadgets that require this motion. Think of the classic American toaster. You push down the lever to start your breakfast. It is a motion associated with starting a process or compacting waste to be efficient. It’s a very practical, blue-collar kind of phrase.
Common Variations
You might hear press down which is slightly more formal. Push down feels more energetic. There is also shove down if you are being aggressive or frustrated. If you are baking, you might pat down dough. But for most mechanical actions, push down is your best friend. It is reliable and clear to everyone.
Usage Notes
This is a neutral phrasal verb. It is safe to use with your boss, your friends, or your grandmother. Just remember that it is a separable phrasal verb, meaning the object can go in the middle.
The 'It' Rule
Always remember: 'Push it down.' Never 'Push down it.' This is the most common mistake for A2 learners.
Don't be too forceful
In emotional contexts, telling someone to 'push down their feelings' can be seen as bad advice. Use 'manage' or 'deal with' instead.
Business English
Use 'push down' in meetings to sound more proactive about cutting costs or lowering prices.
Examples
6You need to push down the plunger slowly on the French press.
You need to push down the plunger slowly on the French press.
Describes a specific mechanical action for a kitchen tool.
Can you push down on my hands with your feet?
Can you push down on my hands with your feet?
Used here to test physical strength or resistance.
If you push down on the clothes, we can zip it shut!
If you push down on the clothes, we can zip it shut!
Shows using weight to create more space.
The lever won't stay when I push it down.
The lever won't stay when I push it down.
Common way to describe a mechanical failure.
I had to literally jump and push down the trash to make it fit.
I had to literally jump and push down the trash to make it fit.
Exaggerating the effort needed for a simple task.
Push down the power button for three seconds to reset.
Push down the power button for three seconds to reset.
Standard instruction for electronic devices.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'push down'.
The suitcase was too full, so I had to ______ the clothes to close it.
You move clothes toward the bottom of the suitcase to make room.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
I have the button. What should I do?
Pronouns like 'it' must go in the middle of a separable phrasal verb.
Match the situation to the meaning of 'push down'.
Situation: A company lowers its prices to sell more products.
In business, 'pushing down' refers to forcing costs or prices to a lower level.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'I'm so angry at my boss!' B: 'Don't just ______. You should tell him how you feel.'
B is advising A not to suppress their emotions.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesThe suitcase was too full, so I had to ______ the clothes to close it.
You move clothes toward the bottom of the suitcase to make room.
I have the button. What should I do?
Pronouns like 'it' must go in the middle of a separable phrasal verb.
Situation: A company lowers its prices to sell more products.
In business, 'pushing down' refers to forcing costs or prices to a lower level.
A: 'I'm so angry at my boss!' B: 'Don't just ______. You should tell him how you feel.'
B is advising A not to suppress their emotions.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsMostly, yes. However, 'push down' often implies more force or a larger movement, while 'press' can be a very small movement (like a doorbell).
Yes, but it's physical. If you push someone down, they end up on the floor. It can also mean to oppress a group of people in a political sense.
Both are correct. 'Push down the button' and 'Push down on the button' mean the same thing. 'On' emphasizes the surface you are touching.
The physical opposite is 'pull up' or 'push up'. The figurative opposite for prices is 'push up' or 'drive up'.
Yes, 'push-down menus' were a common term, though now we mostly say 'drop-down menus'.
It is neutral. It's fine for a casual chat or a business report.
The past tense is 'pushed down'. Example: 'I pushed down the lid.'
Yes, in the context of feelings or information, 'push down' is a more informal way to say 'suppress'.
No, we usually say 'turn down the volume'.
That's actually 'kick the can down the road,' which means to delay a problem. 'Push down' doesn't usually work with 'road'.
Related Phrases
press down
synonymTo apply pressure to something.
push up
contrastTo move something to a higher position.
push over
similarTo make something fall from a standing position.
bottle up
similarTo hide your emotions.
push back
contrastTo resist or delay.
