What are the definitions of “dress down”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Dress casually.
The staff are allowed to DRESS DOWN on Fridays.
- 2Scold.
She DRESSED me DOWN for being rude.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “dress down”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb dress down is to wear casual clothes instead of formal ones. For example, people might dress down on weekends or when they are not at work.
What are the different verb forms of “dress down”?
| Root Verb | dress down |
| Third Person Singular Present | dresses down |
| Present Participle | dressing down |
| Simple Past | dressed down |
| Past Participle | dressed down |
Example
On Fridays, employees can dress down at the office.
Example
She dresses down when she goes to the park.
Example
He is dressing down for the casual party tonight.
Example
Yesterday, they dressed down for the company picnic.
Example
The employees had dressed down for the casual event.
What kind of phrasal verb is “dress down”?
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.)
Intransitive verb
“dress down” is an intransitive phrasal verb because it doesn't require an object to complete its meaning. It forms a complete sentence without an object.
Example
On Fridays, we usually dress down at work.
Example
She dressed down for the informal gathering.
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
“dress down” 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
On Fridays, we usually dress down at work.
Example
She dressed down for the informal gathering.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “dress down”?
Good things to know
Does “dress down” have an informal or formal tone?
Dress down is a neutral to informal phrasal verb. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can be used in both casual and more formal settings, depending on the context. For instance, when discussing workplace policies or dress codes, it can be appropriate in a formal context. However, in most cases, dress down is considered an informal phrasal verb used in everyday speech.
