fall down

No object

This verb takes no object at all.

How to say it

Stress the particle, not the verb: fall DOWN. Saying “FALL down” is the clearest learner tell — the verb stays light and the particle carries the beat.

No pause between the words. /l/ runs straight into /d/ — “fall down” is one rhythmic unit with a single stressed beat on the particle.

What it means

To collapse or drop to the ground.
- “He slipped on the ice and fell down.”
- “Part of the ceiling fell down in the storm.”
Similar: collapse, topple

The particle logic

down

Something decreases, collapses, settles, or gets recorded.

Listen + practice

Hear “fall down” spoken naturally

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More FALL phrasal verbs

Compare the whole family →

fall apart

(Of a plan or organisation) to collapse or fail.

fall behind

To fail to keep pace with others or with a schedule.

fall for

To be deceived by a trick or a lie.

fall out

To quarrel and stop being friends.

fall through

(Of a plan or arrangement) to fail to happen.

fall back on

To resort to a reliable alternative when your first choice fails.

fall off

To decrease in amount or quality.

fall down — meaning, examples & how to say it