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3. come down in the world

come down in the world

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come down in the world

to lose one's social position or financial standing. Mr. Jones has really come down in the world since he lost his job. If I were unemployed, I'm sure I'd come down in the world, too.

See also: come, down, world

come/go down in the world

  (British, Australian, American) also move down in the world (American & Australian)

to have less money and a worse social position than you had before They used to live in a big house with lots of servants, but they've come down in the world since then. When we had to sell our house and take a small apartment downtown, we felt we'd really moved down in the world. (British, Australian, American)

See also: come, down, world