What are the definitions of “come down upon”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Criticise, reprimand severely.
They will COME DOWN UPON us if we are late.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “come down upon”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb come down upon is to criticize or reprimand someone severely. It is often used when someone is being scolded or punished for their actions or behavior.
What are the different verb forms of “come down upon”?
| Root Verb | come down upon |
| Third Person Singular Present | comes down upon |
| Present Participle | coming down upon |
| Simple Past | came down upon |
| Past Participle | come down upon |
Example
If you don't finish your work on time, the boss will come down upon you.
Example
She comes down upon her students when they don't follow the rules.
Example
He is coming down upon his team for their poor performance.
Example
The teacher came down upon the student for cheating on the test.
Example
The consequences have come down upon him for his actions.
What kind of phrasal verb is “come down upon”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“come down upon” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
The coach came down upon the player for not following the game plan.
Example
The manager came down upon the employee for being late to work.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“come down upon” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
The coach came down upon the player for not following the game plan.
Example
The manager came down upon the employee for being late to work.
Good things to know
Does “come down upon” have an informal or formal tone?
Come down upon is a neutral to informal phrasal verb. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can also be used in more formal settings depending on the context. However, in very formal situations, it might be more appropriate to use synonyms like 'reprimand' or 'criticize' instead.
