# dress down

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dress-down
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to wear casual clothes to a place where people usually wear formal ones, like an office. You might do this on a 'casual Friday'.

For teachers: to wear informal clothing in a context that typically requires formal attire. The verb is intransitive in this sense and often appears in professional or corporate contexts.

## Examples

- We usually dress down on Fridays at my office.
- The tech company has a very relaxed culture, so employees are encouraged to dress down every day of the week.
- While the legal profession remains conservative, many modern firms have begun to allow staff to dress down when they are not meeting with clients.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He dressed down himself for the casual meeting." but "He dressed down for the casual meeting." — The verb is intransitive and does not require a reflexive pronoun.

## Usage notes

- This verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.
- Teaching tip: Use 'Casual Friday' as a cultural anchor to explain why someone would choose to dress down in a professional setting.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.