📚 Come Down On, To
Definition: To harshly criticize or punish someone.
Related Idioms and Phrases:
- Like a ton of bricks: To punish or reprimand someone very severely.
- Read the riot act: To severely reprimand someone.
- Lower the boom: To take decisive and severe action against someone.
Educational Note: Imagine standing peacefully under the clear blue sky, and suddenly, out of nowhere, a ton of bricks plummet toward you. That’s more or less what it feels like to be “come down on”—sudden, heavy, and painfully surprising.
Synonyms:
- Scold
- Berate
- Criticize
- Rebuke
Antonyms:
- Praise
- Commend
- Compliment
- Approve
Humor-Filled Quote:
“If your boss ‘comes down on you’ any harder, you might start regretting not wearing a hard hat to work!” —Anonymous
Proverbs and References:
- “Spare the rod, spoil the child”
- “To err is human, but to really mess things up requires a supervisor.”
Literature and Media Recommendations:
Books:
- “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu
- “Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most” by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen
Songs:
- “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar
- “Under Pressure” by Queen & David Bowie
Movies:
- “Office Space” (1999) – Watch out for the scenes with the stern boss!
- “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006) – A prime example of someone ‘coming down on’ an employee.
### Which of these means to harshly scold someone?
- [x] Come down on, to
- [ ] Butter them up
- [ ] Paint the town red
- [ ] Let the cat out of the bag
> **Explanation:** "Come down on, to" is an idiom that means to harshly scold or reprimand someone.
### True or False: 'Come down on, to' and 'like a ton of bricks' are related idioms.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** Indeed, "come down on, to" and "like a ton of bricks" are closely related idioms. Both imply severe and often sudden criticism or punishment.
### Which related idiom involves a direct tool for punishment?
- [ ] Let sleeping dogs lie
- [ ] Once in a blue moon
- [ ] Pay through the nose
- [x] Read the riot act
> **Explanation:** "Read the riot act" implies a severe reprimand, much like "come down on" someone.
### Choose the idiom that means to take severe action:
- [x] Lower the boom
- [ ] Break a leg
- [ ] Smoke and mirrors
- [ ] Pulling your leg
> **Explanation:** "Lower the boom" means to take decisive and severe action against someone, which is similar to "come down on, to."
When words fail, idioms come to the rescue! Keep shining and never stop learning!
Yours wittily, Lexi Legomin
