Definitions
Wiktionary
- v. Used other than as an idiom: see bear, down.
- v. nautical To approach from windward.
- v. intransitive To intensify one's efforts.
- v. intransitive, with on To approach in a determined manner.
- v. intransitive To exert downward pressure on one's abdomen, as in giving birth, forcing out feces, and some similar bodily maneuvers.
WordNet 3.0
- v. exert full strength
- v. exert a force with a heavy weight
- v. pay special attention to
- v. contract the abdominal muscles during childbirth to ease delivery
- v. to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle
- v. exert a force or cause a strain upon
Examples
“Wherefore it were happy that he had neither Round-Head nor Cavalier in the House, for they are each of them so prejudicate against the other that their sitting here signifies nothing but their fostering their old venom and lying at catch to stop every advantage to bear down each other, though it be in the destruction of their country.”
“It had been a cool early summer morning but the sun was beginning to bear down as the sea mist burnt off He looked over at Tom York, IMU's senior captain, a neatly attired, white-haired man who was conferring over the main radar screen with the ship's second officer, a newly appointed Estonian who had come with impeccable credentials from the Russian merchant marine academy.”
“Forming a right angle with the ice, the rock wall on my left allowed me to make stemming maneuvers; using counterpressure, I could more confidently bear down on the crampon points of my right foot, where they were embedded in the ice.”
“Truly" -- said the King "you shall never persuade me leave my followers in the hands of Saracens, without at least doing all in my power deliver them; and I order you put about, and let us bear down on them.”
“Lendle's small mouth fell open and he found himself at an uncustomary loss for words as he watched the wall of water bear down on the ship.”
“Surely the rights of the Duchies, and the claim of Augustenburg, supported by united Germany, would be strong enough to bear down this treaty which was so unjust.”
“About 8.30 Admiral Graves made his and the Russell's signal to engage their opponent; we likewise made Captain Molloy's (the Caesar) signal twice to bear down and come to close action.”
“Dr.C. J. Egan, who makes this statement,94 adds: ` ` The Kaffir position is a very good one, and the woman has full power to bear down and assist her pains.”
“Were we to contend with the grand seignior of the east about our enjoyments, we might easily bear down his windy, pompous train of titles with this one, -- which "millies repetitum placebit," -- The gospel, the gospel!”
“Like the sword of Coeur De Lion, which always blazed in the front and thickest of the battle, Sam's palm-leaf was to be seen everywhere when there was the least danger that a horse could be caught; there he would bear down full tilt, shouting, "Now for it! cotch him! cotch him!" in a way that would set everything to indiscriminate rout in a moment.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘bear down’.
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Three Sheets to the Wind
Common words or phrases of nautical origin that have taken on different or metaphorical meanings. Chained_bear and I tossed a coin over who would make the list. I won (or lost, depending on how you...
scuttlebutt, taken aback, brass monkey, boot camp, clean bill of health, three sheets to t..., the devil to pay, between the devil..., by and large, the whole nine yards, mind your ps and qs, slush fund and 116 more...
Tweets
Looking for tweets for bear down.
reesetee They told her to approach a vessel rapidly from the windward side? Jan 9, 2008
chained_bear Really? Umm... cuz... when... someone I know was giving birth, that's what they told her to do. Jan 9, 2008
reesetee Originally a nautical term--to approach a vessel rapidly from the windward side. Jan 8, 2008