Phrasal verb
have down
Definition
phrasal verb. to understand something perfectly or to have learned a skill so well that you can do it easily.
phrasal verb. to have mastered a skill or acquired a complete understanding of a concept; often implies a state of readiness or proficiency following practice.
Examples
“I finally have the new dance steps down.”
“After practicing for three weeks, she has the presentation down and doesn't even need her notes.”
“The engineering team has the manufacturing process down to such a degree that they can identify potential failures before they occur.”
Examples
simple
“I finally have the new dance steps down.”
contextual
“After practicing for three weeks, she has the presentation down and doesn't even need her notes.”
complex
“The engineering team has the manufacturing process down to such a degree that they can identify potential failures before they occur.”
Usage
usually takes a skill, a process, or a piece of information as its object.
Teaching tip
often used with the intensifier 'pat' as in 'have it down pat'; contrast with 'get down' which focuses on the process of learning rather than the state of mastery.
Pitfall
I have down the song.
I have the song down.
while technically possible, this phrasal verb is almost always used with the object placed between 'have' and 'down'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
down
Separability
optional
Pattern
have + object + down
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/have-down