hunt you down

USAGE SUMMARY

"hunt you down" is a grammatically correct phrase that can be used in written English.
It is a common phrase that means to search for someone with the intention of catching or finding them. You can use "hunt you down" when talking about pursuing or looking for someone in a determined or aggressive manner. For example: - "If you don't return the money you owe me, I will hunt you down and make sure you pay me." - "The police will hunt the criminal down and bring them to justice." - "I promise to hunt you down and bring you back home if you ever try to run away again."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We're going to hunt you down and make you pay.

The New York Times

You use the phone, he will hunt you down.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I will hunt you down," she trills, simultaneously sugary and menacing.

The Guardian - Music

"We will deal with you, we know what you do, we'll hunt you down," they said.

The Guardian

It may take years, but the world will hunt you down and call you to account.

The Guardian

You mess with that pyramid, and the Illuminati will hunt you down.

The New York Times - Arts

Do I have to come to Columbia University and hunt you down?

The New Yorker

Cobain flipped out, writing angry letters ("may the riot grrls hunt you down"), feeling enraged and humiliated.

The New Yorker

"Baby, I'm preying on you tonight/ Hunt you down … We're enemies/ But we get along when I'm inside you".

The Guardian - Music

You can kill some of us, but we will hunt you down and we will get you.

The Guardian

If you hear the barking of the dogs that are trying to hunt you down, keep going".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hunt you down" to express a strong intent to find someone, especially when there's an implication of difficulty or resistance. It's suitable when conveying determination or even a threat.

Common error

Avoid using "hunt you down" in lighthearted or casual situations. Its strong connotation of pursuit and potential threat can sound overly aggressive or melodramatic if not used carefully.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hunt you down" functions primarily as a verb phrase. It expresses a future action involving searching for someone with the intent to find and potentially confront or capture them. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hunt you down" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, that conveys a strong intent to find someone. Predominantly appearing in News & Media and Wiki sources, it serves as a warning or threat, implying determined pursuit and potential repercussions. While versatile, it’s crucial to consider the context, as its forceful nature may not suit formal or lighthearted situations. Related phrases, like "track you down", offer milder alternatives, and while it is grammatically correct, knowing the appropriate context to use it is crucial.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

track you down

Focuses more on the act of finding someone, less aggressive than "hunt".

come after you

Implies pursuit, often with intent to punish or confront.

go after you

Similar to "come after you", suggesting pursuit or confrontation.

chase after you

Emphasizes the act of chasing, potentially implying a less serious threat.

pursue you relentlessly

Highlights the persistence and determination of the pursuit.

be after you

Indicates a desire to catch or capture someone, but may not involve active searching.

hound you

Implies persistent and annoying pursuit, often for information or payment.

dog you

Similar to "hound you", suggesting relentless and irritating pursuit.

bring you to justice

Focuses on legal consequences and apprehension by law enforcement.

make you pay

Shifts the focus to retribution and punishment after finding someone.

FAQs

How can I use "hunt you down" in a sentence?

You can use "hunt you down" to express a strong intent to find someone, often implying a difficult search or a potential threat. For instance, "If you steal from me, I will hunt you down" or "The authorities will hunt down the criminals responsible for the attack".

What's a less aggressive alternative to "hunt you down"?

If you want to express the idea of finding someone without the threat, you can use alternatives like "track you down" or "find you". These options are more neutral and less confrontational.

Is "hunt you down" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "hunt you down" might be too informal or aggressive for formal writing. In such contexts, consider more neutral phrases like "apprehend", "locate", or "pursue".

What is the difference between "hunt you down" and "chase you down"?

"Hunt you down" implies a more strategic and determined search, often with a serious intent. "Chase you down", on the other hand, suggests a more immediate and possibly less organized pursuit. The former carries a stronger connotation of eventual capture.