Wash down Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈwɑʃ/ /ˈdaʊn

WAWSH-DOWN

UK

wˈɒʃ/ /dˈaʊn

WOSH-DOWN

Definition

To drink something in order to help swallow food or medicine, or to clean something by pouring water or another liquid over it.

Usage & Nuances

'Wash down' is informal and common in everyday speech. It can refer to drinking to help swallow food ('wash it down with water') or to hosing/cleaning surfaces ('wash down the driveway'). Not for laundry or routine washing. Often used after eating something dry or hard.

• Spanish: tragar (con bebida) - limpiar (con agua)
• Portuguese (BR): engolir (com bebida) - lavar (com água)
• Portuguese (PT): engolir (com bebida) - lavar (com água)
• Chinese (Simplified): 咽下（用饮料）- 冲洗（用水）
• Chinese (Traditional): 嚥下（用飲料）- 沖洗（用水）
• Hindi: पी लेना (पानी या पेय से) - धो देना (पानी से)
• Arabic: يغسل (بالسائل) - يبلع (مع شراب)
• Bengali: খেয়ে নেওয়া (জল দিয়ে) - ধুয়ে ফেলা (জল ঢেলে)
• Russian: запивать - смывать (водой)
• Japanese: 飲み下す - 洗い流す
• Vietnamese: nuốt xuống (nhờ uống nước) - rửa sạch (bằng nước)
• Korean: 물로 넘기다 - 물로 씻어내다
• Turkish: yutmak için içmek - suyla yıkamak
• Urdu: پانی سے نگلنا - پانی سے دھونا
• Indonesian: menelan dengan bantuan minum - membilas (dengan air)

Example Sentences

He drank water to wash down the pills.

basic

We need to wash down the walls before painting.

basic

She ate a cracker and used juice to wash it down.

basic

Let's wash down the patio before the guests arrive.

natural

That sandwich was so dry—I had to wash it down with soda.

natural

After cleaning the grill, I always wash it down with hot water.

natural