send down the road

USAGE SUMMARY

"send down the road" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to directing someone or something to a different location or situation. Example: "After the meeting, I decided to send him down the road to handle the next project." Alternative expressions include "send on" and "send away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"Anyone that I'm not sure about, I send down the road".

The New York Times

It will reduce the amount of pads and tampons women use and send down the road to be piled in a landfill.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But Israeli soldiers sent down the road that runs beside the fence to disperse the protesters and arrest some of them seemed to an outsider's eye to be almost apologetic, even as they acted against the protesters.

The New York Times

I don't think any youngster who gets his or her first impression of Jackson Pollock from "Action Jackson" will be sent down the wrong road.

The New York Times - Books

"Somewhere along the line I got sent down the wrong road.

BBC

Four tanks were first sent down the road and the Chinese held their fire.

Wikipedia

At 14 00 a tank-infantry patrol was sent down the road, but it reported that an estimated North Korean battalion held the mountain pass just eastward of the battalion's defense perimeter.

Wikipedia

He said he was sent "down this road" by an imam - who denied the allegations.

BBC

But for those who have a tendency to gain weight, it can send them down the road to ruin.

The New York Times - Food

Hopefully we can get a result for them and send them down the road happy.

BBC

Instead of throwing tens of thousands of dollars per person to retrain adults to be a productive workforce, they could be spending pennies on the dollar to educate them while they are young and send them down the road to later educational successes - and higher earning potential.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "send down the road" when you want to convey a sense of delegation or redirection, often implying a lack of finality or a continuation of a process elsewhere. For instance, 'The manager decided to "send down the road" the less critical tasks to the junior team.'

Common error

Avoid using "send down the road" in formal or academic writing where a more precise and direct verb like 'delegate', 'transfer', or 'refer' would be more appropriate. Using it in such contexts may sound too informal or colloquial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "send down the road" functions as an idiomatic expression, typically used as a phrasal verb. It describes the action of directing something or someone elsewhere, often implying a transfer of responsibility or a continuation of a process, as supported by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "send down the road" is an idiomatic expression used to describe the act of redirecting or delegating something or someone, as per the examples found by Ludwig. As Ludwig AI correctly identifies, it is considered grammatically correct and most appropriate for informal contexts like news articles and casual conversation. Its frequency is uncommon, and related phrases include "redirect", "delegate", and "pass on". When using this phrase, be mindful of your audience and the level of formality required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

send along

Suggests forwarding something to the next stage or person.

redirect

Focuses on changing the direction or destination.

pass on

Implies transferring responsibility or an item.

turn away

Implies rejection or refusal to accept.

refer

Highlights directing someone to another person or source.

dismiss

Suggests a formal rejection or termination.

send packing

Emphasizes forceful removal or dismissal.

relegate

Suggests demoting or assigning to a lower position.

send forth

Indicates dispatching or launching something or someone.

ship out

Suggests sending goods or people to a different location, often over a distance.

FAQs

What does "send down the road" mean?

The phrase "send down the road" typically means to redirect someone or something to another person or place, often implying a continuation of a process or a delegation of responsibility. It can also imply a rejection or dismissal.

When is it appropriate to use "send down the road"?

It's appropriate in informal or conversational contexts where you want to convey a sense of delegation or redirection without being overly formal. Avoid it in academic or business writing where more precise language is required.

What are some alternatives to "send down the road"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "redirect", "delegate", "refer", or "pass on".

Is "send down the road" grammatically correct?

Yes, "send down the road" is grammatically correct as an idiomatic phrase. However, its appropriateness depends on the context. It's generally considered acceptable in informal settings but not in formal writing.