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3. speak down to

speak down to

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speak down to someone

to address someone in simpler terms than necessary; to speak condescendingly to someone. There is no need to speak down to me. I can understand anything you are likely to say. sorry. sometimes I tend to speak down to people over the telephone.

See also: down, speak

speak down to

To speak condescendingly to: She never spoke down to her audience.

See also: down, speak