Sit down vs Sit your ass down

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Sit down

Top 1,000 (very common)

Sit your ass down

InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: Sit downMost common: Sit down
 Sit downSit your ass down
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //sɪt daʊn//🇺🇸 //sɪt daʊn//🇬🇧 //sɪt jʊər ɑːs daʊn//🇺🇸 //sɪt jʊr æs daʊn//
MeaningTo take a seat.To tell someone to sit down, often in a rude way.
ExamplePlease sit down before we start the meeting.He was getting loud, so I said, 'Sit your ass down.'
RegisterNeutralInformal
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Collocationssit down for a meal, sit down with friends, sit down and talksit down, ass down, calm down
Antonymsstand up, rise-
Common mistakesConfused with 'set down' which means to place something., Using 'sitted' instead of 'sat' as the past tense.Using 'your' instead of 'you're'., Confusing 'sit down with' as a different meaning., Using it in formal settings.
Usage notesUse 'sit down' in informal settings. It's polite to ask someone to sit down in a formal dinner party.This phrase is very informal and can be considered rude or disrespectful. Use it only among friends or in casual situations.

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Sit down
Sit your ass down

Frequently asked questions: Sit down vs Sit your ass down

What's the difference between Sit down and Sit your ass down?

Sit down: To take a seat. Sit your ass down: To tell someone to sit down, often in a rude way.

Which is more formal: Sit down and Sit your ass down?

Sit down is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Sit down and Sit your ass down?

Sit down is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Sit down: Please sit down before we start the meeting. Sit your ass down: He was getting loud, so I said, 'Sit your ass down.'

Can I use Sit down and Sit your ass down interchangeably?

Not always. Sit down and Sit your ass down are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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