down
Preserved but no longer current.
To be aware of, or awake to, any move—in this meaning, exchangeable with UP; "DOWN upon one’s luck," unfortunate; "DOWN in the mouth," disconsolate; "to be DOWN on one," to treat him harshly or suspiciously, to pounce upon him, or detect his tricks.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “down” mean?
To be aware of, or awake to, any move—in this meaning, exchangeable with UP; "DOWN upon one’s luck," unfortunate; "DOWN in the mouth," disconsolate; "to be DOWN on one," to treat him harshly or suspiciously, to pounce upon him, or detect his tricks.
Is “down” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.