gather down

USAGE SUMMARY

'gather down' is not a correct phrase in written English.
The phrase that is commonly used in such contexts is 'gather up'. Example: The teacher asked the children to gather up their things so they could leave the classroom.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

After dinner if there are no moonlight treks scheduled, guests gather down in the common area for nightcaps and conversation.

Forbes

Thread a needle with a thread that is at least one foot longer than the length you need to gather down to.

WikiHow

Predecessors of cosplay from the '80s still gather down the road at the entrance to Yoyogi Park.

BBC

It dies after dinner but, before you eat, this is a fun place to gather, down a few snifters and listen to some cocktail piano.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Several residents gathered down near the end of First Street on Wednesday and commiserated over the cost.

The New York Times

Hamilton appeared on Tuesday evening out of the VIP tent to wave to the throng of green and white gathered down on Belfast Lough.

The Guardian - Sport

BEIJING — Shortly after BMX cycling made its Olympic debut Wednesday, the American riders gathered down the hill from the site at a bike shop called Trek.

The New York Times - Sports

During batting practice for his first games here since last July — when he was traded, the Yankees were in Seattle and he played all three games for his new team — he was cheered respectfully, and a crowd gathered down the right-field line as he signed autographs.

The New York Times - Sports

As the Senate fought over oil, top Democrats gathered down the street at national party headquarters to show that they were rallying together now that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York had dropped her presidential bid, leaving Senator Barack Obama of Illinois as the party's presidential contender.

The New York Times

Moments later Sam Baldock, who has scored just once since joining Brighton at the end of August, saw his header gathered down low by home keeper Neil Etheridge.

BBC

Andre Leon Talley, The Daily Beast's Robin Givhan and fashion designer Ralph Rucci gathered down in Georgia this past weekend for a speaking engagement at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to describe a gathering, consider using more common and grammatically sound alternatives such as "gather around", "assemble", or "collect" for clarity and better communication.

Common error

Avoid using "gather down" as a standard phrasal verb in formal writing. Although it appears in some contexts, it's often interpreted as separate actions of gathering and moving downwards, which may not convey the intended meaning. Rely on established phrasal verbs for clear communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gather down" functions as a verb phrase where "gather" is the verb and "down" acts as an adverbial particle, modifying the action of gathering. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, it's not a standard or commonly accepted phrasal verb.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "gather down" appears in some contexts, it is not considered a standard or grammatically correct phrasal verb in English. As Ludwig AI points out, a more appropriate alternative for collecting items is "gather up". Its usage is rare and mostly found in informal contexts such as news and general web content. For clarity and effective communication, it is advisable to use more common and accepted alternatives like "collect", "assemble", or "gather around".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collect

Emphasizes bringing things together into a single place or group.

assemble

Suggests a more formal or organized gathering of people or things.

convene

Implies a formal meeting or gathering for a specific purpose.

muster

Connotes gathering something with effort, often referring to courage or resources.

accumulate

Highlights a gradual increase or gathering over time.

garner

Suggests collecting or gathering something, often information or support.

compile

Indicates gathering and arranging information into a structured format.

marshal

Implies organizing and positioning people or things effectively.

round up

Suggests gathering people or animals together, often from a wide area.

get together

Indicates an informal gathering for social purposes.

FAQs

What does "gather" usually mean?

Generally, "gather" means to bring things or people together into one place or group. It can also mean to collect or accumulate something gradually.

Is "gather around" a better alternative to "gather down"?

Yes, "gather around" is often a more appropriate alternative. It suggests that people should come together and form a circle or group around something or someone.

What can I say instead of "gather down"?

You can use alternatives like "collect", "assemble", or "convene" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "gather down" or "gather up"?

"Gather up" is the more common and grammatically correct choice when you want to indicate collecting things. "Gather down" is less standard and could be misinterpreted.