Learning English

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DOWN TO EARTH

Someone who is down to earth is practical, sensible, and realistic. They are not pretentious or focussed on imaginary matters. They ‘have their feet on the ground’, which is another expression meaning the same.

It is unsurprising that, because if we can touch earth, it is real to us. In contrast, dreams and the imagination are in the sky! If someone has their head in the clouds, they are not realistic – and so not down to earth!

Example Sentences

He’s very down to earth. You couldn’t ask for a better project manager. He never misses a deadline.
Signing a prenuptial agreement before you got married shows what a down-to-earth couple you both are!
Awarding the ferry contract to a company that doesn’t actually own any ferries wasn’t very down-to-earth thinking was it? Get our money back!

Now You Try

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የቅርብ Friday Phrase

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Episode 191025 / 25 Oct 2019
Find out how to use the phrase 'have a frog in your throat' in BBC Learning English's Friday Phrase series.
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Episode 191011 / 09 Oct 2019
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