To wash down is to clean a surface by applying water or liquid and wiping: He washed down the deck after the storm.
The phrase also means to drink something along with food, especially to help swallow it: She washed down the pills with orange juice.
The drinking sense suggests the liquid carries the food down the throat.
1. swallow — gulp, Hasty, large swallow; swig (Large hasty draught); chug (Drink in gulps); chase (Rapid following of quarry); drink · sip · swallow · throat · ingest · bolus · deglutition · esophagus · palate · quaff
2. cleanse — rinse, Wash without scrubbing; hose (Flexible fluid conduit); spray (Dispersed liquid droplets); scrub (Clean by rubbing hard); sluice · flush · clean · soap · suds · sponge · bucket · water · squeegee · detergent
Opposites
METHOD OF CONSUMPTIONwash down ≠ masticate Crush food orally; gnaw · nibble · crunch · chew · munch
DIRECTION OF CLEANING ACTIONwash down ≠ wash up Clean hands and face; scrub up
SURFACE TREATMENTwash down ≠ dry off Remove surface moisture; towel off · dirty · soil · muddy
Family
down, wash, washing, washed, downtown, downpour, washroom, download, downcast
- Familiarity
- Top 20,000
- Profile
- Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G