GUN DOWN

National Parks

📖 Definition

To 'gun down' means to shoot someone or something with a firearm, typically resulting in immediate death or incapacitation.

Examples in context

📖 Definition

To 'gun down' means to shoot someone or something with a firearm, typically resulting in immediate death or incapacitation.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable
Yes
The object can be placed between 'gun' and 'down' or after 'down'.
Register
Neutral
Commonly used in reporting or narratives, suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
Transitive
Yes
Requires a direct object; you must specify who or what is being shot.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense Form Example
Present Simple gun down They often gun down their enemies in movies.
Past Simple gunned down He was gunned down at the entrance of the building.
Present Continuous gunning down The soldier is gunning down enemy planes.
Present Perfect have gunned down The police have gunned down the perpetrators.

💡 When to Use

Describing a violent act
Use when referring to the act of shooting someone dead, often in a sudden or deliberate manner.
Example: "The gang leader was gunned down in the street."
Historical contexts
Appropriate for discussing historical events involving shootings, highlighting the context's significance.
Example: "The soldiers were gunned down during the war."
Reporting news
Suitable for journalism when reporting incidents involving shootings, focusing on the event's occurrence.
Example: "Three were gunned down outside the stadium last night."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Using without a direct object
❌ Wrong: The man gunned down.
✅ Correct: The man was gunned down by robbers.
💡 Tip: Always specify who or what was targeted.
Incorrect tense usage
❌ Wrong: He gun down his target yesterday.
✅ Correct: He gunned down his target yesterday.
💡 Tip: Use 'gun down' in the past form for past actions.
Incorrect placement of object
❌ Wrong: He gunned down quickly his target.
✅ Correct: He quickly gunned his target down.
💡 Tip: Adverbs can be placed before 'gun' or after 'down'.
Practice

GUN DOWN - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

  1. Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
  2. Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
  3. Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

shoot down mow down

Antonyms

save

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"The fugitive was ___ down as he tried to escape."

ran
gun down
jumped
walked

"To gun down a life is to extinguish a flame, but to protect it is to nurture the light within us all."

In Context

On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was gunned down in Sarajevo, an event that would drastically alter the course of history. Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, was on a goodwill visit to Bosnia when Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand organization, took the fateful shot. The assassination was meant to spark the flames of independence for South Slavs, but it ignited the first World War instead. In the chaotic aftermath, tensions escalated as nations took sides, leading to alliances that drew most of Europe into conflict. The words “gun down” echoed throughout history, symbolizing the swift and irreversible influence of a single act of violence. As the war progressed, millions were gunned down on the battlefields of Europe, from Verdun to the Somme. The conflict reshaped borders and societies, leaving a legacy of destruction and loss. The death of Franz Ferdinand was not just the loss of a leader but marked the end of an era and the dawn of modern warfare. His assassination reminds us of the weight of political actions, proving how the gunning down of a single individual can devastate nations.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Gun Down

What is the origin of gun down?

+
The phrase 'gun down' originated in the early 20th century as firearms became more prevalent. Initially used in military contexts, it quickly gained popularity in broader usage to describe deliberate or sudden acts of shooting, often with fatal results.

Can gun down be used in formal and informal contexts?

+
'Gun down' is versatile and applicable in both formal and informal settings. In formal writing, especially historical or news contexts, it describes significant events. Informally, it is used in narratives or conversations where shootings or violence are the focus.

What is the difference between gun down and shoot down?

+
'Gun down' typically refers to shooting individuals with fatal intent, emphasizing the act's lethality. 'Shoot down' can imply destruction or rebuttal, like shooting down an idea or aircraft, making it broader and not always lethal when applied to people.

Related Phrasal Verbs

Explore more phrasal verbs in our dictionary:

go along withgo beyondgrow fromhand backhold down
Browse All National Parks Phrasal Verbs
National Parks Phrasal Verbs - WeeklyCross
Alessandra Nóbrega
About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey



0%
Scroll to Top