wash down

wash down (third-person singular simple present washes down, present participle washing down, simple past and past participle washed down)

1. (transitive) To help to swallow (something, especially food or a pill) by drinking a liquid.

   Now we just need a drink to wash it down.

   I had a nice beef sandwich washed down with a pint of bitter.

   • 1907 February 2, The Chronicle, Adelaide, page 50, column 2:

     Well, we had our breakfast of ship's bread and molasses, washed down with cannikins of something liquid - but not lovely.

   • 1961 March, ""Balmore"", “Driving and firing modern French steam locomotives”, in Trains Illustrated, page 151:

     This time we started with melon, went on to salad and cold chicken, next tried some excellent Camembert and finished up with grapes. To wash this down in the enginemen's shanty, we had a nice white Bordeaux, followed by the remains of the Rosé and finishing up with excellent Beaujolais.

   • 2012 [2002], Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into the Universe‎, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN:

     Having just dined on a plate of fried chicken, you wash it down with a can of beer and contemplate that life doesn't get any better than this. Ever wonder what happens next?

2. (transitive) To wash (something) completely from top to bottom.

   Coordinate terms: rinse down, rinse off, wash off, wipe down

   You must wash the wall down well before painting.

   We'll wash it down with a garden hose and just a touch of soap.

3. (transitive) To send (something) down the drain by washing action.

   Coordinate term: rinse down

   There was some food residue in the sink, so she washed it down.

• washdown (noun)

• downwash

• downwash