# hose down

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to wash or clean something using a hose that sprays water. You use this when you need to clean a car, a floor, or even a person after they get very dirty.

For teachers: to wash or drench something or someone thoroughly by using a hose. The verb is transitive and allows for object placement between the verb and particle.

## Examples

- I need to hose down the car before we leave.
- After the football match, the coach had to hose down the muddy equipment before putting it away.
- The sanitation crew spent the early hours of the morning hosing down the plaza to remove the debris left behind by the festival crowds.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I hosed down of the patio." but "I hosed down the patio." — the verb is transitive and takes a direct object without the preposition 'of'.

## Usage notes

- This phrase is commonly used for large objects, outdoor areas, or animals.
- Teaching tip: Use this to teach the 'optional' separability of phrasal verbs, as both 'hose down the dog' and 'hose the dog down' are correct.

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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.