Phrasal verb
fall down
Definition
phrasal verb. to drop to the ground by accident, usually because you tripped or lost your balance.
phrasal verb. to drop to the ground from an upright position; intransitive phrasal verb often used to describe accidental loss of balance or the collapse of a structure.
Examples
“Be careful on the ice or you will fall down.”
“The toddler tried to walk across the room but tripped on a toy and fell down.”
“The old wooden shed finally fell down after years of neglect and exposure to the harsh winter storms.”
Examples
simple
“Be careful on the ice or you will fall down.”
contextual
“The toddler tried to walk across the room but tripped on a toy and fell down.”
complex
“The old wooden shed finally fell down after years of neglect and exposure to the harsh winter storms.”
Usage
usually used without an object to describe the action of falling to the floor.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'fall over' (often used for objects or people tipping from a vertical to horizontal position) and 'fall off' (moving from a higher surface to a lower one).
Pitfall
He fell down the chair.
He fell off the chair.
use 'fall down' for dropping to the ground; use 'fall off' when moving from a surface like a chair or bike to the floor.
Phrasal verb
Particles
down
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
fall + down