What Does “Go down with sth” Mean?
“Go down with sth” means to become ill or sick with a particular disease or condition. It is often used informally to describe catching an illness.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “go down with sth” is commonly used in everyday English to talk about falling ill. When someone says they have “gone down with the flu,” it means they have caught the flu and are now sick. The phrase is especially useful because it clearly expresses the idea of becoming unwell without needing a long explanation. Understanding the “go down with sth meaning” helps learners describe illnesses in a natural way. It is often followed by the name of an illness or condition, such as “a cold,” “the flu,” or “food poisoning.”
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: go down with something
- Type: intransitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to become ill with a disease or condition
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Go down with sth” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means you cannot separate the verb and the particle with an object.
- Correct: She went down with the flu last week.
- Incorrect: She went down the flu with last week.
The structure usually follows this pattern:
- Subject + go(s) down + with + illness/disease
- Example: They went down with food poisoning after the party.
How to Use “Go down with sth”?
Use “go down with sth” when you want to say someone has become sick with a specific illness. It is often used in informal conversations and everyday speech. You can also use it to talk about yourself or others.
For example, if you catch a cold, you can say, “I went down with a cold yesterday.” If a friend is sick with the flu, you might say, “He has gone down with the flu.”
Examples
Here are some natural sentences using “go down with sth”:
- My sister went down with chickenpox last weekend.
- Several students went down with the stomach bug after the school trip.
- He went down with a fever and had to stay home from work.
- After eating the seafood, many guests went down with food poisoning.
- Go down with sth in a sentence: “She went down with the flu and missed the meeting.”
Common Mistakes
People sometimes confuse “go down with sth” with other phrases or use the wrong word order. Here are some common errors:
- Incorrect: I went down the flu yesterday.
- Correct: I went down with the flu yesterday.
- Incorrect: He goes down with sick.
- Correct: He went down with an illness.
Remember, “go down with” must be followed by “with” and then the illness or condition.
Differences / Synonyms
There are other ways to say someone became ill, but “go down with sth” is unique because it focuses on the process of catching the illness. For example:
- Catch sth: to become infected with an illness (e.g., catch a cold)
- Come down with sth: very similar in meaning and usage to “go down with sth”
- Fall ill: more formal and general, does not specify the illness
The difference between “go down with sth” and “come down with sth” is subtle. Both mean becoming sick. “Go down with” is slightly more informal and may be more common in British English.
Common Collocations
When using “go down with,” it is usually followed by common illnesses or health problems. Here are some frequent collocations:
- Go down with the flu – to become sick with influenza
- Go down with a cold – to catch a cold
- Go down with food poisoning – to become ill after eating bad food
- Go down with chickenpox – to catch chickenpox
- Go down with a fever – to develop a fever
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of go down with sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “go down with sth”:
Alice: How was your weekend?
Ben: Not great, actually. I went down with the flu on Saturday.
Alice: Oh no! Are you feeling better now?
Ben: A little. I stayed home and rested all day Sunday.
Practice
Try filling in the blanks with the correct form of “go down with sth”:
- Last week, several employees ________ the stomach flu.
- She was supposed to come to the party, but she ________ a cold.
- After the picnic, I ________ food poisoning.
FAQs
- Q: Can “go down with” be used for serious illnesses?
A: Yes, it can be used for any illness, from mild colds to serious diseases. - Q: Is “go down with” formal or informal?
A: It is mostly informal and used in everyday conversations. - Q: Can I use “go down with” in the past tense?
A: Yes, common past forms are “went down with” or “has gone down with.” - Q: What’s the difference between “go down with” and “come down with”?
A: Both mean becoming ill; “come down with” is more common in American English. - Q: Can “go down with” be used for non-illness situations?
A: No, it is specifically used for illnesses or health conditions.
