Grammar fix

trickle down

spread to lower levels (figurative)

If something such as money, benefits, or information trickles down, it gradually spreads from people at the top of a system or organization to those at lower levels.

phrasal verbC1occasional

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

The government hopes that economic growth will trickle down to benefit poorer communities.society
Some people argue that increased investment in technology will eventually trickle down to improve the quality of life for all members of society.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: trickle down (from/to)

WrongThe profits trickled down the workers.

RightThe profits trickled down to the workers.

'Trickle down TO' people — don't drop 'to'.

Patterntrickle down (from/to)

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff The benefits gradually disseminate to those at lower levels.

Natural The benefits slowly trickle down to ordinary workers.

'Trickle down' is the idiomatic verb for wealth or info spreading downward; 'disseminate' is formal.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

trickle down + to
to employeesto the publiceventuallyslowly

Don't confuse it

This figurative sense is different from the literal use of 'trickle down' (e.g. water trickling down a wall), which is more basic and concrete. Here, it describes the slow and limited spread of non-physical things like money or ideas.

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