down to
The phrase "down to" is versatile and used in various contexts to indicate inclusivity, causation, responsibility, or proximity.
Definition
B2General
(inclusive)Including even the smallest or least important part.
Example
- Our work must be accurate down to the last detail.
B2Responsibility
(accountability)Used to indicate that something is someone's responsibility or decision.
Example
- It's down to you to finish the project on time.
B2Causation
(attribution)Used to indicate the cause or reason for something.
Example
- I put the children's bad behavior down to the fact that they were tired.
C1Reduction
(simplification)To reduce or simplify something to its essential elements.
Example
- The discussion boiled down to a simple question of ethics.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "down to":
down withcome down toget downget down ongo downdown belowmake downmove downlook downdown the waycome downup toback downdown to the short strokesdown thereon toshort downcome on downdrop downdown for the countdrop intokeep downdown lowup and downup to heretake downbring downgo downtownfall tolet downthumb downcast downcall downlive down