Meaning trap
get down
make someone sad
To make someone feel sad, disappointed, or less happy.
phrasal verbB1common
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
make someone sad
To make someone feel sad, disappointed, or less happy.
get down (write down)
Another meaning of 'get down' is 'write down'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- Rainy weather always gets me down.feelings
- Sometimes, too much stress at work can really get people down and affect their motivation.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: get sb down
WrongDon't let it get down you.
RightDon't let it get you down.
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'get you down'.
Patternget sb down
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Get someone down' is the natural way to say something is depressing you; the formal version is a diary entry.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
get + person + downthe weatherme downyou downall the bad news
Don't confuse it
Not to be confused with 'get down to' (start doing something seriously).
Related
- get down (write down) — Another meaning of 'get down' is 'write down'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.