down on (one's) luck

1. From a higher to a lower place or position: hiked down from the peak.

2. Toward, to, or on the ground, floor, or bottom: tripped and fell down.

3. Away from a place considered central or a center of activity, such as a city or town: down on the farm; sent down to work at the firm's regional office.

4. Away from the present place.

5. To or in a quiescent or subdued state: calmed down.

6. In or into an inactive or inoperative state: The generators went down at midnight.

In or into a sitting, kneeling, or reclining position: knelt down; lying down.

Toward or in the south; southward: flew down to Florida.

1. Away from a place considered central or a center of activity, such as a city or town: down on the farm; sent down to work at the firm's regional office.

2. Away from the present place.

3. To or in a quiescent or subdued state: calmed down.

4. In or into an inactive or inoperative state: The generators went down at midnight.

To a specific location or source: tracking a rumor down.

Toward or at a low or lower point on a scale: from the biggest down to the smallest.

1. To or in a quiescent or subdued state: calmed down.

2. In or into an inactive or inoperative state: The generators went down at midnight.

To or at a lower intensity.

To or into a lower or inferior condition, as of subjection, defeat, or disgrace.

To an extreme degree; heavily: worn down by worry.

Seriously or vigorously: get down to the project at hand.

From earlier times or people: tradition handed down from one generation to the next.

To a reduced or concentrated form: pared the term paper down to five pages.

In writing; on paper: wrote the statement down.

In partial payment at the time of purchase: put ten dollars down on the necklace.

Into or toward a secure position: nailed down the boards; bolted the furniture down.

1. Moving or directed downward: a down elevator.

2. Low or lower: Stock prices were down today.

3. Reduced; diminished: The wind is down.

4. Sports & Games Trailing an opponent: a team down 20 points in the last quarter; down two pawns in the endgame.

5. Football Not in play: The ball is down on the 50-yard line.

6. Football Not permitted to advance further in the play because forward progress has stopped, especially by being tackled. Used of a ball carrier.

7. Baseball Retired; out: two down in the last of the ninth.

Afflicted; sick: She's down with a bad cold.

Malfunctioning or not operating, especially temporarily: The computer is down.

Low in spirits; depressed: feeling down today.

1. Sports & Games Trailing an opponent: a team down 20 points in the last quarter; down two pawns in the endgame.

2. Football Not in play: The ball is down on the 50-yard line.

3. Football Not permitted to advance further in the play because forward progress has stopped, especially by being tackled. Used of a ball carrier.

4. Baseball Retired; out: two down in the last of the ninth.

Completed; done: three down, two to go.

Learned or known perfectly: had the algebra problems down.

Slang Having knowledge of; aware: "He was not, I detected, 'down with the revolution'" (Clarence Page).

Slang Of high quality; excellent.

In a descending direction along, upon, into, or through: rolled down the hill; floating down the river; went down cellar.

Along the course of: walking down the street.

In or at: The cans are stored down cellar.

A downward movement; descent.

Football Any of a series of four plays during which a team must advance at least ten yards to retain possession of the ball.

To bring, put, strike, or throw down: downed his opponent in the first round.

To swallow hastily; gulp: downed the glass of water.

Football To put (the ball) out of play by touching it to the ground.