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come down on

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come down on somebody/something

1. to criticize someone or something It seems that if you give an opinion about something, people come down on you.

2. to have an opinion about someone or something It was hard to know where he would come down on the issue.

Related vocabulary: come down on the side of somebody/something

See also: come, down, on

come down on

Also, come down upon.

1. Also, come down hard on. Punish or reprimand severely. For example, My professor is going to come down on me for not completing the paper, or The judge promised to come down hard on drug dealers. [Early 1600s] Also see like a ton of bricks.

2. Oppose, voice one's opposition, as in The President came down on the new budget cuts, promising to veto them. [Late 1800s]

3. come down on the side of. Make a choice or decision in favor of, plump for, as in I'll come down on the side of those who are needy.

See also: come, down, on

come down on

To punish, oppose, or reprimand severely and often with force: a district attorney who came down hard on drug dealers.

See also: come, down, on