The prevailing negative attitude is partly down to people's experiences of the system.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It is down to fitness, self-discipline and determination, they believe.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
That suggests the premium is down to those bid hopes.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
All related terms of 'down to'
boil down to
If you say that a situation or problem boils down to a particular thing or can be boiled down to a particular thing, you mean that this is the most important or the most basic aspect of it.
come down to
If a problem , decision , or question comes down to a particular thing, that thing is the most important factor involved.
get down to
If you get down to something, especially something that requires a lot of attention , you begin doing it.
put down to
If you put something down to a particular thing, you believe that it is caused by that thing.
talk down to
If you say that someone talks down to you, you disapprove of the way they talk to you, treating you as if you are not very intelligent or not very important .
down-to-earth
If you say that someone is down-to-earth , you approve of the fact that they concern themselves with practical things and actions, rather than with abstract theories .
to down tools
If you say that workers down tools , you mean that they stop working suddenly in order to strike or to make a protest of some kind.
cut down to size
to reduce the prestige or importance of
down to the wire
until the last possible moment
back/down to earth
If you come down to earth or back to earth , you have to face the reality of everyday life after a period of great excitement .
come down to earth
to have to face the reality of everyday life after a period of great excitement
down to the ground
thoroughly; completely
to win hands down
If you win hands down , you win very easily .
to lay down the law
If you say that someone lays down the law , you are critical of them because they give other people orders and they think that they are always right.
get down to brass tacks
to begin to discuss the basic , most important aspects of a situation
to bring the house down
If a person or their performance or speech brings the house down , the audience claps , laughs , or shouts loudly because the performance or speech is very impressive or amusing .
to lay down your life
If someone lays down their life for another person, they die so that the other person can live .
to let the side down
If you say that someone has let the side down , you mean that they have embarrassed their family or friends by behaving badly or not doing well at something.
to let your hair down
If you let your hair down , you relax completely and enjoy yourself.
when it comes (down) to
You can use the expression when it comes to or when it comes down to in order to introduce a new topic or a new aspect of a topic that you are talking about.
to get down to brass tacks
If you get down to brass tacks , you discuss the basic, most important facts of a situation.
to cut someone down to size
If someone is cut down to size , something happens to make them realize that they are not as important as they think they are.
cut a person down to size
to reduce in importance or decrease the conceit of
cut someone down to size
to do or say something to someone who is behaving arrogantly, to show them that they are less important or impressive than they think they are
suit sb down to the ground
If you say that something such as a job or piece of clothing suits someone down to the ground , you mean that it is completely suitable or right for them.
to batten down the hatches
If someone battens down the hatches , they prepare themselves so that they will be able to survive a coming difficulty or crisis .
to take something lying down
If someone takes an insult or attack lying down , they accept it without protesting .
to throw down the gauntlet
If you throw down the gauntlet to someone, you say or do something that challenges them to argue or compete with you.
to drop dead
If you tell someone to drop dead , you are insulting them, rudely disagreeing with them, or refusing to do something, or telling them to stop bothering you.
get something down to a fine art
to become highly proficient at something through practice
suit (right) down to the ground
to suit completely
to be breathing down someone's neck
If you say that someone is breathing down your neck , you mean that they are watching you very closely and checking everything you do.
to get bogged down with something
to be prevented from making progress
to go down like a lead balloon
to be a total failure ; fall flat
a number down and a number to go
If you say that there are a number of things down and a number to go , you are saying how many of the things have already been dealt with and how many remain to be dealt with.
have something down to a fine art
to know the best way of doing something because you have practised it a lot and have tried many different methods
to look down your nose at someone
If you say that someone looks down their nose at something or someone, you mean that they believe they are superior to that person or thing and treat them with disrespect .
when you come/it comes down to it
You can use the expression when it comes down to it or when you come down to it for emphasis , when you are giving a general statement or conclusion .
have got something down to a fine art
If you have got something down to a fine art , you are able to do it in a very skilful or efficient way because you have had a lot of experience of doing it.
to come down on somebody like a ton of bricks
If someone comes down on you like a ton of bricks , they are extremely angry with you and tell you off because of something wrong that you have done.
turn sth inside out to turn something upside down
If someone turns a place inside out or upside down , they search it very thoroughly and usually make it very untidy .
to ram something down someone's throat to force sth down sb's throat
If you ram something down someone's throat or force it down their throat , you keep mentioning a situation or idea in order to make them accept it or believe it.
give something the thumbs down
to show that you do not approve of something, such as a plan , a suggestion , or an activity, and are not willing to accept it
to catch sb with their trousers/pants down to be caught with one's pants down
If someone is caught with their pants down , something happens that they are not prepared for and that reveals something embarrassing or shocking about them. In British English, you can also say that they are caught with their trousers down .