come down on

1. 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 .

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

3. 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 .

Idioms and Phrases

Also, come down upon .

Example Sentences

Smith wrote that “every court to consider the question” has come down on the side of allowing the attorney general to bypass the standard appointment process in such cases.

From Salon

Coaches and politicians bring out what they believe is the essence of men, and come down on everything else.

From Salon

“I definitely come down on the animal rights side of science,” Pratt said.

From Los Angeles Times

But legal experts, perhaps with a rosier view of how the Supreme Court might come down on a view of immunity stated so vulgarly, generally reject Trump’s belief that Trump can do whatever he pleases.

From Salon

She is an enlightened woman who doesn’t like the sexualization, but it’s a really hard thing to come down on because there’s a feeling among girls, and I’ve seen this in my own capturing of feminism and new feminism, where girls feel like showing their bodies is their right and their self-expression and they want to own that.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• jump on
• scold