come down on
Meaning(s)
1. criticize or punish someone harshly for something
Popularity
Medium
Professional
Medium
Social
How to Memorize
come down hard on someone for something
Analysis
The idiom to come down on someone means to reprimand criticise or punish someone extremely harshly. To come down on something or someone can also mean to demonstrate strong opposition to something or someone.
Social Examples (Basic)
- He came down on you pretty hard there, didn't he? It's not fair of him to do that, what happened wasn't your fault.
- The teacher comes down on me like a ton of bricks every time I talk in class. I think he really has it in for me.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- I don't want to come down on you too harshly, but your recent performance at work has simply not been good enough. You really need to knuckle down!
- If news of our responsibility for polluting the river comes out the public will come down on us very severely.