Word: Climb Down
Part of Speech: Verb
Basic Meaning: "Climb down" means to come down from a higher place to a lower place. It can be used literally (like when someone climbs down from a tree) or figuratively (like when someone reduces their position or opinion in a discussion).
Usage Instructions: - Use "climb down" when talking about physically moving down from a height. - Use it figuratively when someone changes their opinion or attitude, usually to be less stubborn or to agree with someone else.
Examples: 1. Literal Use: "The monkey climbed down from the tree." 2. Figurative Use: "After realizing he was wrong, he decided to climb down from his strong opinion."
Advanced Usage: In discussions or arguments, "climb down" often implies that a person was initially very firm or aggressive in their stance, but then they chose to soften their position or admit they were wrong.
Word Variants: - "Climbed down" (past tense) - "Climbing down" (present participle)
Different Meaning:While "climb down" primarily refers to descending from a height or changing one’s position in an argument, it can also imply humility or the willingness to compromise.
Synonyms: - Descend - Come down - Back down (when used in the figurative sense)
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs: - "Back down": To withdraw from a position or stance, similar to "climb down" in a figurative sense. - "Come down to earth": To stop being unrealistic and start being practical; can be related to the idea of "climbing down" from lofty thoughts.