Phrasal verb
get down on
Definition
phrasal verb. to criticize someone a lot or treat them unfairly.
phrasal verb. to criticize or find fault with someone persistently; often implies a pattern of negative judgment or discouragement directed at a specific person.
Examples
“Don't get down on yourself just because you made one mistake.”
“The coach really got down on the players after they lost the championship game.”
“It is easy for managers to get down on their subordinates during a crisis, but constructive feedback is usually more effective for long-term morale.”
Examples
simple
“Don't get down on yourself just because you made one mistake.”
contextual
“The coach really got down on the players after they lost the championship game.”
complex
“It is easy for managers to get down on their subordinates during a crisis, but constructive feedback is usually more effective for long-term morale.”
Usage
usually takes a person or oneself as the object.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'get down to' (to start work) to avoid confusion; emphasize that this phrase describes a negative social interaction or self-criticism.
Pitfall
He got down on to his brother.
He got down on his brother.
the phrase is 'get down on' followed directly by the object; adding 'to' is a common error from confusing it with other 'get' phrases.
Phrasal verb
Particles
down on
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
get + down + on + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/get-down-on