Cool MateDown vs Drink up
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Down
High-frequency chunkA1adverb
Drink up
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Most formal: DownMost common: Down
| Down | Drink up | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/daʊn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/daʊn/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //drɪŋk ʌp//🇺🇸 //drɪŋk ʌp// |
| Meaning | A word meaning below or to lower something. | To finish your drink. |
| Example | She quickly ran down the hill. | Come on, it's almost time to leave. Drink up! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | High-frequency chunk | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | sit down, bring down, down the road | drink up quickly, time to drink up, drink up and go, encourage to drink up, don't forget to drink up |
| Antonyms | up, higher, above | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'down' with 'up' when indicating direction., Using 'down' incorrectly with certain verbs like 'set down' instead of just 'set'., Using 'down' where a more specific preposition might be better, like 'beneath'. | Using 'drink up' in a formal setting., Confusing with 'drink down', which is not commonly used., Omitting the object when using 'drink up'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'down' to indicate direction or position. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts but avoid using it in overly formal writing where more specific terms might be required. | Use 'drink up' when encouraging someone to finish their beverage quickly. It’s casual and suitable for friends but not for formal occasions. |
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Frequently asked questions: Down vs Drink up
What's the difference between Down and Drink up?
Down: A word meaning below or to lower something. Drink up: To finish your drink.
Which is more formal: Down and Drink up?
Down is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Down and Drink up?
Down is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Down: She quickly ran down the hill. Drink up: Come on, it's almost time to leave. Drink up!
Can I use Down and Drink up interchangeably?
Not always. Down and Drink up 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.