| 释义 |
ˈcome-down, n.
[f. vbl. phrase come down: see come v. 60.]
1. A descent, a downfall; a notable reverse. Now esp., a fall or drop in social or official position or status.
1840R. Dana Bef. Mast xxviii, This was a great come-down, from the highest seat in the synagogue to a seat in the galley. 1865Sat. Rev. 2 Sept. 298/2 The Ott affair is a pitiful come-down. 1887H. H. Jackson Between Whiles i. 18 It was a sad come-down from his old air-castles for her and for himself. 1891Cornhill Mag. May 485 They regarded [it] as somewhat of a ‘come down’ in the world. 1919‘Boyd Cable’ Old Contemptibles xviii. 291 He joined the Volunteers, of course. It was a sad come-down. 1960J. Rae Custard Boys i. vii. 84 ‘Quite a come-down, eh, John?’ I glanced back at him and saw that he was smiling at his successful use of the idiom.
†2. castle (of) come-down. [Here the n. and pa. pple. interchange; the latter may be the original.] fig. An edifice that has come to ruin; an unsubstantial structure easily overthrown. Obs.
1563–87Foxe A. & M. (1596) 1902/1 Her high buildinges of such ioyes and felicities, came all to a Castle Comedowne. 1583H. D. Godlie Treatise Faith & Wks. 87 Sufficient to haue ouerthrowne your whole castle of comedowne of iustifying by the works of the law and grace. a1635Sibbes Comm. 2 Cor. i. 12 (1862) 251 Many mistake, and build castles in the air, comb-downes as we say. 1660S. Fisher Rusticks Alarm Wks. 431 The reasonable Reader may read afore-hand what a Come-down Castle the rest of thy Babylonish Building is like to be. 1682H. More Annot. Glanvill's Lux O. 223 The fairest and firmest structures of Philosophical Theorems..will become a Castle of Come-Down, and fall quite to the ground. |