ENGLISH
REFERENCE

beat down

phr. v..
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford

phr. v.. to shine very strongly and make you feel hot and tired.

phr. v.. to radiate intense heat and light upon a surface or person; typically used with the sun as the subject to describe oppressive weather conditions.


SIMPLE

The sun is beating down on us today.

CONTEXTUAL

We had to find some shade because the midday sun was beating down on the desert sand.

COMPLEX

As the tropical sun continued to beat down relentlessly, the hikers found their water supplies dwindling faster than anticipated.

Particles
down
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
beat + down + on + object
Usage

usually used in the continuous form with 'on' followed by a person or place.

Teaching tip

focus on the 'oppressive' quality of the action; it is rarely used for a pleasant, warm sun, but rather one that feels like an attack.

Pitfall

The sun beat down us.The sun beat down on us.this sense of the phrasal verb requires the preposition 'on' to connect the action to the person or thing affected.

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