down to

down to
down to, up to
1. When referring to people and their actions, down to suggests obligation or responsibility whereas up to suggests opportunity. If you say It is up to them you imply that they have a choice about how to act, whereas if you say It is down to them you imply that they are responsible for acting or having acted in some way. Examples:

• The boom in Gucci and Pucci and…Lacoste ‘names’ on clothes, bags and other ornamentation is all down to the Yuppies —Sunday Telegraph, 1985

• Poor ethos in a school may be down to one person, good ethos is down to everyone —Times Educational Supplement, 1999.

The origin of this use is possibly connected with the phrase come (or be put) down to, which has a similar meaning:

• My remarks…should be put down to my own lack of sympathy with the scientistic vision which Thomas upholds —Times Literary Supplement, 1980

• One of the biggest fears is not being believed. It nearly always comes down to one person's word against another's —Sunday Mercury, 1998.

2. Down to and up to are used interchangeably in the meaning ‘until’ (up to the 19th century or down to the 19th century), except that the viewpoint is slightly different, up to being essentially forward-looking and down to retrospective.

Modern English usage. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Down — Down, adv. [For older adown, AS. ad[=u]n, ad[=u]ne, prop., from or off the hill. See 3d {Down}, and cf. {Adown}, and cf. {Adown}.] 1. In the direction of gravity or toward the center of the earth; toward or in a lower place or position; below;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Down on — Down Down, adv. [For older adown, AS. ad[=u]n, ad[=u]ne, prop., from or off the hill. See 3d {Down}, and cf. {Adown}, and cf. {Adown}.] 1. In the direction of gravity or toward the center of the earth; toward or in a lower place or position;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Down — may refer to: Relative direction, where down is the direction towards the centre of gravity of a celestial object. Railroad directions, where down and up have locally significant meanings Down feather, a soft bird feather frequently used in… …   Wikipedia

  • Down in It — Single by Nine Inch Nails from the album Pretty Hate Machine Released …   Wikipedia

  • Down — ([daʊn], engl. unten, herunter, herab, nieder) steht für: eine Grafschaft in Nordirland, siehe County Down einen District in Nordirland, siehe Down (District) eine Genommutation beim Menschen, siehe Down Syndrom (Trisomie 21) einen Quark, siehe… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Down — Down, a. 1. Downcast; as, a down look. [R.] [1913 Webster] 2. Downright; absolute; positive; as, a down denial. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster] 3. Downward; going down; sloping; as, a down stroke; a down grade; a down train on a railway. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Down — Down, prep. [From {Down}, adv.] 1. In a descending direction along; from a higher to a lower place upon or within; at a lower place in or on; as, down a hill; down a well. [1913 Webster] 2. Hence: Towards the mouth of a river; towards the sea; as …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Down — Down, n. [Akin to LG. dune, dun, Icel. d?nn, Sw. dun, Dan. duun, G. daune, cf. D. dons; perh. akin to E. dust.] 1. Fine, soft, hairy outgrowth from the skin or surface of animals or plants, not matted and fleecy like wool; esp.: (a) (Zo[ o]l.)… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Down — Down, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Downed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Downing}.] To cause to go down; to make descend; to put down; to overthrow, as in wrestling; hence, to subdue; to bring down. [Archaic or Colloq.] To down proud hearts. Sir P. Sidney. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Down — Down, n. [OE. dun, doun, AS. d[=u]n; of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. d[=u]n hill, fortified hill, Gael. dun heap, hillock, hill, W. din a fortified hill or mount; akin to E. town. See {Town}, and cf. {Down}, adv. & prep., {Dune}.] 1. A bank or rounded… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Down — (doun), v. t. To cover, ornament, line, or stuff with down. [R.] Young. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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