adjective
down-to-earth
down-tuh-URTH
Down-to-earth (adjective) means Practical, sensible and realistic, without pretension or grand ideas. Example: “She gave me some down-to-earth advice about renting my first flat.”
adjective
1
Practical, sensible and realistic, without pretension or grand ideas.
"She gave me some down-to-earth advice about renting my first flat."
"For all his success, he stayed refreshingly down-to-earth."
How to use down-to-earth
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIt describes someone who is normal, sensible and easy to talk to.
When to use it
Always complimentary. Hyphenated before a noun (a down-to-earth manager) and usually hyphenated after a linking verb too (he is down-to-earth), though unhyphenated forms appear.
Memory tip
It applies to people and to advice, plans or attitudes, but not to physical objects.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
down-to-earth approach
refreshingly down-to-earth
down-to-earth advice
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She gave me some _____ advice about renting my first flat.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for down-to-earth
See all rhymes for down-to-earth →Frequently asked questions
Is calling someone down-to-earth a compliment?
Yes. It says the person is modest, realistic and easy to deal with, especially when they might be expected to be grand or distant. It is one of the safest compliments in English.
What is the difference between down-to-earth and earthy?
Down-to-earth is about temperament: practical and unpretentious. Earthy is about flavour, smell or plain-spokenness, and often suggests a robust, slightly coarse quality.
What is the opposite of down-to-earth?
For people, pretentious, aloof or self-important. For ideas, the opposite is fanciful or unrealistic, often expressed as having your head in the clouds.
What is the meaning of down-to-earth?
"down-to-earth" (adjective) means practical, sensible and realistic, without pretension or grand ideas.
