'To be down on' definitions:

Definition of 'To be down on'

From: GCIDE
  • Down \Down\, adv. [For older adown, AS. ad[=u]n, ad[=u]ne, prop., from or off the hill. See 3d Down, and cf. Adown, and cf. Adown.]
  • 1. In the direction of gravity or toward the center of the earth; toward or in a lower place or position; below; -- the opposite of up. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Hence, in many derived uses, as: (a) From a higher to a lower position, literally or figuratively; in a descending direction; from the top of an ascent; from an upright position; to the ground or floor; to or into a lower or an inferior condition; as, into a state of humility, disgrace, misery, and the like; into a state of rest; -- used with verbs indicating motion. [1913 Webster]
  • It will be rain to-night. Let it come down. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • I sit me down beside the hazel grove. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]
  • And that drags down his life. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]
  • There is not a more melancholy object in the learned world than a man who has written himself down. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
  • The French . . . shone down [i. e., outshone] the English. --Shak. (b) In a low or the lowest position, literally or figuratively; at the bottom of a descent; below the horizon; on the ground; in a condition of humility, dejection, misery, and the like; in a state of quiet. [1913 Webster]
  • I was down and out of breath. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • The moon is down; I have not heard the clock. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • He that is down needs fear no fall. --Bunyan. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. From a remoter or higher antiquity. [1913 Webster]
  • Venerable men! you have come down to us from a former generation. --D. Webster. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. From a greater to a less bulk, or from a thinner to a thicker consistence; as, to boil down in cookery, or in making decoctions. --Arbuthnot. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: Down is sometimes used elliptically, standing for go down, come down, tear down, take down, put down, haul down, pay down, and the like, especially in command or exclamation.
  • Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • If he be hungry more than wanton, bread alone will down. --Locke. Down is also used intensively; as, to be loaded down; to fall down; to hang down; to drop down; to pay down.
  • The temple of Her[`e] at Argos was burnt down. --Jowett (Thucyd.). Down, as well as up, is sometimes used in a conventional sense; as, down East.
  • Persons in London say down to Scotland, etc., and those in the provinces, up to London. --Stormonth. [1913 Webster]
  • Down helm (Naut.), an order to the helmsman to put the helm to leeward.
  • Down on or Down upon (joined with a verb indicating motion, as go, come, pounce), to attack, implying the idea of threatening power. [1913 Webster]
  • Come down upon us with a mighty power. --Shak.
  • Down with, take down, throw down, put down; -- used in energetic command, often by people aroused in crowds, referring to people, laws, buildings, etc.; as, down with the king! "Down with the palace; fire it." --Dryden.
  • To be down on, to dislike and treat harshly. [Slang, U.S.]
  • To cry down. See under Cry, v. t.
  • To cut down. See under Cut, v. t.
  • Up and down, with rising and falling motion; to and fro; hither and thither; everywhere. "Let them wander up and down." --Ps. lix. 15. [1913 Webster]