15秒了解
- Used to describe a decrease in amount, price, or level.
- Very common in daily conversation and basic business contexts.
- Simple verb that changes to 'went down' in the past.
意思
When something 'goes down', it moves to a lower level, amount, or value. Think of it like a thermometer in winter or the price of your favorite shoes during a sale.
关键例句
3 / 6Shopping for clothes
I will wait for the price of this jacket to go down.
I will wait for the price of this jacket to decrease.
Discussing the weather
The temperature will go down tonight, so wear a coat.
The temperature will drop tonight, so wear a coat.
In a business meeting
Our expenses went down significantly last quarter.
Our costs decreased a lot in the last three months.
文化背景
Americans are obsessed with gas prices. You will often hear people say 'Gas went down two cents!' as a major topic of small talk at work. In the UK, 'go down' is frequently used for the sun. Because summer days are very long and winter days are very short, the time the sun 'goes down' is a common part of daily planning. When a major service like WhatsApp or Instagram stops working, the phrase 'Is it down?' or 'It went down' trends globally on Twitter (X). In corporate settings, 'going down' is usually bad (profits) unless it refers to 'churn' (customers leaving) or 'expenses.'
Use for Trends
Whenever you see a line on a graph moving from the top left to the bottom right, you can say it is 'going down'.
Irregular Past
Never say 'goed down'. Always use 'went down' for the past.
15秒了解
- Used to describe a decrease in amount, price, or level.
- Very common in daily conversation and basic business contexts.
- Simple verb that changes to 'went down' in the past.
What It Means
At its heart, go down is about reduction. It describes things getting smaller, lower, or cheaper. Imagine a ball rolling down a hill. In a conversation, we use it for numbers, temperatures, or even your phone's battery percentage. It is a very physical way to describe abstract changes.
How To Use It
You use go down just like a regular verb. It changes to goes down for he/she/it and went down for the past. You can pair it with words like by or to. For example, 'The price went down by ten dollars.' It is simple, direct, and very common in daily life.
When To Use It
Use it whenever you see a decrease. Use it at the grocery store when eggs are cheaper. Use it at work when website traffic drops. Use it at home when the heater finally kicks in and the temperature drops. It is perfect for texting friends about your low battery too. It feels natural and easy.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using it for people's height; we say 'get shorter' instead. Do not use it for someone's mood unless you mean they are feeling 'down'. In very stiff, academic writing, you might prefer decrease or decline. However, in 90% of life, go down is your best friend. Also, be careful with slang—sometimes go down means something is happening, which can be confusing!
Cultural Background
English speakers love using directional verbs. Up is usually 'more' or 'good,' and down is 'less' or 'bad.' This phrase has been around forever because it is so visual. In the business world, everyone is obsessed with things going down (like costs) or going up (like profits). It is a universal way to track progress or problems.
Common Variations
You will often hear drop, fall, or sink. If something goes down very fast, we say it plummeted. If it goes down slowly, it dipped. You might also hear go down the drain, which means something was totally wasted. Stick to the basic go down first, and you will always be understood.
使用说明
The phrase is neutral and works in almost any situation. Just remember that it is an irregular verb (go/went/gone).
Use for Trends
Whenever you see a line on a graph moving from the top left to the bottom right, you can say it is 'going down'.
Irregular Past
Never say 'goed down'. Always use 'went down' for the past.
The 'History' Trick
If you want to sound advanced, use 'go down in history' to describe something very important.
例句
6I will wait for the price of this jacket to go down.
I will wait for the price of this jacket to decrease.
Talking about a future sale or price drop.
The temperature will go down tonight, so wear a coat.
The temperature will drop tonight, so wear a coat.
A very common way to talk about getting colder.
Our expenses went down significantly last quarter.
Our costs decreased a lot in the last three months.
Professional but still uses natural, clear language.
My battery is going down so fast today!
My battery percentage is dropping very quickly today.
Used to explain why you might stop replying soon.
My bank account goes down every time I walk past a bakery.
I spend money every time I see a bakery.
Using the phrase to joke about spending habits.
The swelling in my ankle started to go down after I used ice.
The inflammation in my ankle decreased after using ice.
Used to describe physical recovery or reduction in size.
自我测试
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'go down'.
Last winter, the temperature _______ to -10 degrees.
'Last winter' indicates the past tense, so we use 'went down'.
Which sentence is correct?
Talking about a sale:
'Went down' is the standard way to describe a price decrease.
What is the most natural response?
A: 'Is the elevator working?' B: 'Yes, it's _______ right now to pick you up.'
The present continuous 'is going down' describes an action happening right now.
Match the 'go down' meaning to the situation.
The swelling on my arm went down.
In a medical context, 'go down' means the inflammation is reducing.
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
Go Down vs. Go Up
练习题库
4 练习Last winter, the temperature _______ to -10 degrees.
'Last winter' indicates the past tense, so we use 'went down'.
Talking about a sale:
'Went down' is the standard way to describe a price decrease.
A: 'Is the elevator working?' B: 'Yes, it's _______ right now to pick you up.'
The present continuous 'is going down' describes an action happening right now.
The swelling on my arm went down.
In a medical context, 'go down' means the inflammation is reducing.
🎉 得分： /4
常见问题
4 个问题Yes! This is very common when the price is currently changing or if you are describing a general trend happening these days.
It is acceptable, but 'decrease' or 'decline' sounds more professional in written reports.
It means the website is not working or is offline. It's a very common tech expression.
Yes, informally. 'The cake went down a treat' means it was eaten quickly and enjoyed.
相关表达
go up
contrastTo increase in value or level.
fall down
similarTo drop to the ground accidentally.
go down with
specialized formTo become ill with a specific disease.
go down well
builds onTo be well-received by others.
