come down in the last shower • come out in the wash come down in the last shower—(Irish coll., usually negat.) be naive and gullible: I’m sorry to disappoint you, if you expect me to take your work seriously, but unfortunately for you I didn’t come down in the last shower . come out in the wash —1. (of the truth) be revealed or become clear later: The impression is being created that everything will come out in the wash within the inquiry and that people will be found guilty or not guilty. 2. (of a situation) be resolved or put right eventually, especially without intervention: “I thought everything was going to be all right….” “Don’t worry, old girl, it’ll all come out in the wash .” come down on someone • come down to someone come down on someone—1. demand smth. firmly from a per- son: Things looked good until the State came down on me for sales tax. 2. reprimand or criticize a person severely: Many people came down on me for publishing my book. come down to someone—be passed on to smb.: This photo, which came down to me from my uncle, shows Benjamin Rollings outside his house. See also: come up to something / go up to something. come down on someone like a ton of bricks • hit someone like a ton of bricks come down on someone like a ton of bricks—(coll.) reprimand or punish a person severely: If I find you misbehaving, I’ll come down on you like a ton of bricks . hit someone like a ton of bricks—(coll.) make a person feel an unpleasant emotion very strongly: He said something that sounded innocent to him, but it hit Debbie like a ton of bricks . come down to earth • go to earth come down to earth—(also: come back to earth) stop day- dreaming; return to practical realities (especially unpleasant): Now, Virgie, come down to earth and give me the low-down. What’s happened to Mrs. Bedford’s diamonds? go to earth —(also: go to ground) go into hiding; put oneself out of sight: The policeman … turned back to assist his col- leagues in finding Barbury, so mysteriously gone to earth . See also: drop from the skies / fall to the ground. come down to something • go down to something come down to something—1. be reduced to its real meaning: The whole matter comes down to a power struggle between the trade union and the directors. 2. be reduced to a humble position: He finally came down to selling matches on street corners. 3. get down to smth.; examine smth.: When we come down to details, the plan seems possible. 4. be reduced to a lower level: I don’t think we will ever see prices come down to where they were two or three years ago. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase come down on something—criticize or attack smth.: The critics came down much too hard on the performance. go down to something—1. = come down to something 4: The prices should go down to something more reasonable if they expect people to buy. 2. extend in time or space; reach as far as: This book is no use to me; it only goes down to the General Election of 1951. come down to the wire • come under the wire come down to the wire—(also: go down to the wire) continue to the very last moment or the very end: The game came down to the wire with the Eckerd defense stopping the Owls in the final minutes. come under the wire—(also: go under the wire) 1. be at the finishing-line of a racecourse: He hardly ever came under the wire behind the other runners. 2. come at the last possible moment: The law suits were filed on New Year’s Eve, thus came under the wire as an event of 1941. come down with something • go down with something come down with something—1. provide money or informa- tion: We need not worry. The firm will come down with the money. 2. be taken ill with a disease: The good Deacon almost feared he was about to come down with a fever. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase come up with something— think of a plan, solution, an- swer, etc.: How on earth did you come up with such a brilliant idea? go down with something— = come down with something 2: Our holiday was fine until Jim went down with a bad cold. come easy to someone • go easy on someone come easy to someone—(of skills, money, etc.) be mastered or gained easily without much exertion: She has a natural talent for learning, and it comes easy to her. Cf.: easy come, easy go — used to say that smth. you get easily can be lost as easily: Several recessions taught me that unless you are disciplined about sav- ing, money is easy come, easy go . go easy on someone—(coll.) be lenient with a person; not treat smb. too harshly: Go easy on Ben: he’s only very young and he tries hard. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase be easy-going—be not easily annoyed or upset by other people’s actions: Mrs. Harris wears the pants at home: Mr. Har- ris is far too quiet and easy-going to argue with her. come for someone • go for someone come for someone—(coll.) rush forward with the object of attacking a person: As I opened the gate a great black dog came for me. go for someone—1. = come for someone: Our dog went for the postman again this morning, he’ll get us into trouble. 2. (coll.) approve of or support a person: Will the voters go for him now, that’s the point? 3. be relevant to smb.; concern a person: You must arrive on time or be dismissed—that goes for all workers. come for something • go for something come for something—arrive to collect smth.: You’ve come for my money, haven’t you! No one can have it! go for something—1. have a liking for smth.: I don’t go for horror films, and I can’t understand why anyone likes them. 2. be sold for a specified amount of money: The house went for just over five thousand pounds. 3. attack smth. in words: The newspapers have really gone for Tom’s new book in a big way. 4. aim for smth.: The stakes are high, and the question is whether Hindus intend to go for the big one or settle for less. come forward • go forward come forward—1. stand out: The great door was ornamented with figures, some coming forward so that they looked real. 2. present oneself (with an offer to help): The police have asked for witnesses of the accident to come forward . 3. (of an issue) be raised for discussion: The matter was deferred at last evening’s meeting, but will come forward at our next session. Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase come to the fore—(also: come to the front) become con- spicuous or popular: Andrew Young came to the fore during the Civil Rights marches of the 1960s. go forward—1. improve; make progress: Work on the new hospital is going forward at a satisfactory pace. 2. be presented (to an authoritative body) for consideration or approval: Your come down in the last shower – 78 –