ENGLISH
REFERENCE

go below

phr. v..
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford

phr. v.. to move from the deck of a ship to the rooms or areas underneath it.

phr. v.. to descend from the upper deck of a vessel to the lower decks or cabins; primarily used in nautical contexts.


SIMPLE

The captain told the crew to go below during the storm.

CONTEXTUAL

As the sun began to set, the passengers decided to go below to prepare for dinner.

COMPLEX

The sailors were ordered to go below and secure the cargo before the heavy swells reached the ship's hull.

Particles
below
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
go + below
Usage

usually functions as an intransitive verb in a maritime setting.

Teaching tip

anchor this in a nautical context to help students remember it; contrast with 'go downstairs' which is used for buildings.

Pitfall

He went to below to find his cabin.He went below to find his cabin.'below' acts as an adverb of direction here, so the preposition 'to' is unnecessary and incorrect.

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