bring down
4 meanings
make someone or something fall to the ground
What does "bring down" mean in this sense?
Examples
- The missile brought down the military helicopter before it reached the border.
- High winds brought several large trees down across the road last night.
- It is still unclear what brought down the passenger jet over the Atlantic.
How to use it
The most common structure, used when the object is a noun phrase — especially natural with longer noun phrases.
Strong winds brought down several power lines across the city last night.
Used with short noun objects; separation is very natural and common in spoken English.
The storm brought the old oak tree down in less than a minute.
Pronouns must always go between the verb and the particle — never after it.
The fighter jet was hit by a missile, and the pilot tried everything to prevent it from bringing him down with it.
The passive form is very natural, especially in news contexts where the cause of a crash is being reported or investigated.
The cargo plane was brought down by an engine failure shortly after take-off.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When using a pronoun as the object, it must go between 'bring' and 'down'. Putting it after the particle is not correct in English.
'Bring down' has several meanings. This sense means to cause something to fall physically to the ground. Do not use it when talking about reducing prices or costs (that is a different sense) or toppling a government (also a different sense). Context — especially the type of object — tells you which meaning is intended.
'Shoot down' means specifically using weapons or gunfire. 'Bring down' is broader and can include any cause — weather, mechanical failure, or sabotage — so they are not always interchangeable.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral in register and appears in both spoken and written English. It is especially common in news reports about aviation accidents or military incidents. Do not confuse this physical sense with the separate meanings of 'bring down' used for reducing prices or toppling governments.
make something lower (a price, level, or amount)
Sense 2: What does "bring sth down" mean?
Examples
- The government has promised to bring down inflation within two years.
- These measures should bring the cost of energy down significantly.
- Interest rates need to be brought down before consumers start spending again.
How to use it
This is the most common structure, especially with short objects. The object sits between 'bring' and 'down'.
The new policy should bring costs down by at least 10%.
When the object is a longer noun phrase, it can follow 'down', though separation is still common in spoken English.
They are trying to bring down the overall cost of public transport.
When using a pronoun instead of a noun, it must go between 'bring' and 'down', never after 'down'.
Prices are too high — we need to bring them down.
The passive form is very natural, especially in news and formal writing, often with modal verbs.
Waiting times at the clinic need to be brought down before next year.
This phrasal verb is often used in infinitive constructions expressing goals or intentions.
The company plans to bring down its energy costs by switching to solar power.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'bring' and 'down'. Placing it after 'down' is ungrammatical in English.
'Go down' is used when something falls by itself with no agent — for example, 'Prices went down last month.' Use 'bring down' only when a person, organisation, or action is actively causing the reduction.
'Bring down' in this sense works with measurable things like rates, prices, and levels. It doesn't work well with abstract feelings or vague concepts — use 'reduce' or 'lower' in those cases, or choose a different verb.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both formal writing and everyday speech. It is especially common in news, business, and political contexts when talking about reducing rates, prices, or levels.
make a powerful person, government, or system lose their power
Sense 3: What does "bring sb/sth down" mean?
Examples
- The scandal was enough to bring down the entire administration.
- Protesters vowed to bring the dictator down no matter how long it took.
- The prime minister was finally brought down by members of her own party.
How to use it
The most common pattern: a person, movement, or event causes a government or leader to lose power. The object follows the particle.
Years of corruption scandals finally brought down the ruling party.
When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'bring' and 'down' — placing it after the particle is ungrammatical.
The opposition had been trying to bring him down for years.
Short noun phrases can also be separated, and this often sounds emphatic or natural in spoken English.
The protest movement threatened to bring the government down within weeks.
The passive is very common, especially in journalism, when the focus is on the fall of power rather than who or what caused it.
The administration was brought down by a series of financial scandals.
Modal verbs are frequently used to discuss the possibility or potential of removing someone from power.
A single damaging revelation could bring down the entire leadership.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
This phrasal verb always needs an object — the person or institution losing power. Leaving out the object produces an incomplete or meaningless sentence.
When the object is a pronoun like him, her, or them, it must come between 'bring' and 'down'. Placing it after 'down' is ungrammatical in English.
The same phrasal verb is used to mean 'reduce' with objects like prices, costs, or inflation. The key is the object: institutions and leaders are removed from power, but figures and rates are reduced. Mixing these up can cause serious misunderstanding.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works equally well in formal writing and everyday speech about politics. Be careful not to confuse it with 'bring down' meaning 'reduce' — 'bring down a government' means to remove it from power, while 'bring down prices' means to lower them.
make someone feel sad or unhappy
Sense 4: What does "bring sb down" mean?
Examples
- This rainy weather really brings me down every winter.
- Don't let their negativity bring you down — you're doing great.
- He was brought down by the constant criticism at work.
How to use it
When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'bring' and 'down' — this is the most common pattern in everyday speech.
All this talk about deadlines is really bringing me down.
With a noun object, you can place it after 'down' or between the two parts — both are natural.
Constant rejection letters brought down the whole team's confidence.
Separating the verb with a shorter noun object is also very natural and common.
The gloomy winter days tend to bring everyone down.
The passive form is natural when you want to focus on the person whose mood is affected rather than the cause.
He was really brought down by the news that his application had been rejected.
This fixed-pattern structure is a very common way to encourage someone not to let something affect their mood.
Don't let one bad day bring you down — things will improve.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When the object is a pronoun like 'me', 'him', or 'them', it must go between 'bring' and 'down'. Placing it after 'down' sounds unnatural.
'Bring down' in this sense always needs a person as its object — you cannot leave it out. Without an object, the sentence is incomplete.
'Bring down' means to make someone feel sad or emotionally low, while 'let down' means to disappoint someone by failing to meet their expectations — these are different feelings with different causes.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral to informal and suits everyday conversation and casual writing. It refers to a temporary low mood caused by something external, not clinical depression.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'bring down' only refer to aircraft?
No — aircraft are very common objects with this phrasal verb, but it can also describe trees, walls, buildings, or any large structure that is made to fall to the ground. For example, a storm can bring down power lines or a controlled explosion can bring down an old bridge.
Does 'bring down' always need an object?
Yes, in this physical sense 'bring down' always needs an object — something has to fall. You cannot say 'it brought down' with nothing after it. The object is the thing that ends up on the ground.
Can I use 'bring down' in the present continuous, like 'is bringing down'?
This usually sounds a bit forced or unnatural. The simple past and simple present are much more common. The present continuous can work if you are describing a very slow, ongoing physical process — such as a controlled demolition happening in stages — but in most situations, avoid it.
Is 'bring down' common in passive sentences?
Yes, the passive form is very natural with this phrasal verb, especially in news reports. When the cause of a crash or collapse is unknown or not the main focus, writers often say 'the plane was brought down' without naming who or what caused it.
Does 'bring down' have other meanings I should know about?
Yes — the same form is used to mean 'reduce something' (like prices or costs) and 'cause a government or leader to lose power'. These are separate senses with different collocates. The objects tell you which meaning is intended: aircraft, trees, and buildings point to this physical sense.
Does 'bring down' always mean reduce? I've heard it used in other ways.
No, 'bring down' has more than one meaning. In this sense, it means to reduce a level, rate, or amount — like bringing down prices or inflation. In other contexts, it can mean to cause something or someone to lose power or fall, such as bringing down a government. The context usually makes the meaning clear: if the object is something measurable, it's this 'reduce' sense.
What kinds of things can you 'bring down'?
The object is usually something measurable — a rate, level, price, or amount. Common examples include costs, prices, inflation, interest rates, emissions, debt, blood pressure, and crime rates. If you can imagine the thing on a scale that goes up and down, 'bring down' is likely to work.
Can 'bring down' be used in the passive?
Yes, the passive form is very natural and common, especially in news articles, business writing, and political contexts. For example: 'Interest rates need to be brought down' or 'Emissions have been brought down significantly.' You'll often see it with modal verbs like 'must', 'need to', or 'should'.
Is it natural to say 'We are bringing down inflation' in the present continuous?
It's possible, but it can sound a little awkward on its own. It's more natural to add a supporting phrase, like 'We are working to bring down inflation' or 'We are bringing down inflation faster than expected.' The present continuous works better when there is extra context around it.
Does 'bring down' always involve politics? Can I use it in other situations?
Politics and government are by far the most common contexts, but the phrasal verb can apply to any situation where someone or something in a position of authority loses that power. For example, a CEO can be brought down by a corporate scandal, or a business empire can be brought down by poor decisions. The key is that the object must be an entity holding real power or status.
Can 'bring down' describe one quick event, or does it always involve a long process?
It is most naturally associated with sustained pressure or a significant causal force — the implication is that the fall was serious and consequential. However, it can also describe a single decisive event: 'One leaked document brought down the entire cabinet.' Either way, the result is a significant, lasting loss of power, not a minor setback.
Is 'bring down' common in spoken English, or is it mainly for writing?
It is used in both. In formal writing and journalism, you will see it constantly. In everyday spoken English, it appears naturally when people discuss politics or current events — for example, 'Do you think this scandal will bring down the government?' There is no strong restriction to either spoken or written use.
Can I use 'bring down' in the present continuous, like 'the protests are bringing down the government'?
This is possible but sounds slightly unnatural unless you are describing a very specific, ongoing moment. 'Bring down' more typically describes a completed process or a potential outcome, so the simple present, simple past, present perfect, and modal forms all sound more natural. If you want to describe something actively happening, a phrase like 'the protests could bring down the government' or 'the protests have finally brought down the government' would sound more idiomatic.
What kinds of subjects collocate most naturally with 'bring down' in this sense?
Common subjects include abstract forces like scandals, protests, and revelations, as well as people or groups like opposition leaders, rival parties, or coalition forces. A scandal can bring down a government; protesters can bring down a dictator; a coalition can bring down an administration. The subject is usually something powerful enough to plausibly cause a major political or institutional collapse.
Does 'bring down' always have to refer to a person as the object?
Yes — in this emotional sense, the object must always be a person or group of people, such as 'me', 'him', 'the whole team', or 'everyone'. If you use an abstract noun like 'prices' or 'costs' as the object, it triggers a completely different meaning (to reduce something), not the emotional sense.
What kinds of things can 'bring someone down'?
The subject is almost always something external, like bad weather, negative people, a stressful environment, bad news, or a run of failures. It's less common to use a deliberate person as the subject — you'd more naturally say 'her attitude brings everyone down' than describe it as an intentional act.
Is 'bring down' the same as 'get down' when talking about mood?
They are very close in meaning and often interchangeable — both describe making someone feel emotionally low. 'Get down' is slightly more colloquial, but in most everyday contexts either works perfectly well.
Can I use 'bring down' to describe clinical depression?
Not really — 'bring down' refers to a temporary dip in mood caused by an outside situation, not a medical or clinical condition. For more serious or lasting states, English speakers would use different vocabulary rather than this phrasal verb.
Is 'bring down' more British or can I use it anywhere?
It's widely understood across English-speaking countries, though it is slightly more common in British English. You won't sound unnatural using it in American, Australian, or other varieties — it's familiar to most English speakers.
Ready to practise?
Practise 1,000+ English phrasal verbs with interactive gap-fill exercises.
Start Practising →