soaked down

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "soaked down" is not commonly used in written English and may not be considered correct.
It could be used in contexts where something is thoroughly wet or saturated, but "soaked" alone is typically sufficient. Example: "After the rainstorm, my clothes were completely soaked down to my skin."

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"When the cameras would get soaked down by police hoses or beaten up, we'd fix them and send them back south," Mr. Forscher said in a telephone interview from his home in Austerlitz, N.Y.

The New York Times

If you're tired of constantly cleaning up after your cat, or you fear that the urine has soaked down to the carpet pad or throughout your hardwood floor, call a professional.

WikiHow

The force nearly tipped me on my rear, causing me to experience a devastating vision of myself emerging from the labyrinth soaked down the back of my jeans, clocking in for another year of ridicule.

The New Yorker

And spit-up is nowhere near as bad as big kid vomit, even when you're soaked down to your bra.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

– David Cameron, who had to move his jubilee party indoors as rain soaked Downing Street "It was thought I would not look elegant in the Lycra" – London mayor Boris Johnson explaining why he turned down the offer of an oar on Gloriana for a place on the Havengore, the launch which carried the coffin of Winston Churchill to his funeral.

The Guardian

Corn grillers in Lynchburg, Tenn., have soaking down to a science.

The New York Times - Food

Another method is to mix the pesticide in a large watering can and apply a soil drench to the base of the plants, to soak down and hopefully put an end to the weevils.

The New York Times

"It's in the winter season that the rain that falls can soak down through the soil and make its way down into the groundwater stores.

BBC

He is the one at the party who starts the water-balloon fight that rages for hours and turns into a full-on soak down.

The New York Times

He poured several beers, in succession, right onto his pleasure center, which could remain dry and withered no matter what came soaking down.

The New Yorker

Water the sod a half hour after it is put down, watering but not drenching it, applying about one inch of water so that it soaks down three and a half inches or so.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "soaked down" is understandable, consider using "soaked" or "thoroughly soaked" for greater clarity and conciseness in your writing. This avoids potential ambiguity and aligns with more common usage.

Common error

Avoid stacking unnecessary prepositions. Using "soaked" alone often conveys the same meaning as "soaked down" without adding superfluous words. Using single word helps to keep sentences shorter and easier to read.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "soaked down" functions as a phrasal verb, where "soaked" is the main verb and "down" acts as a particle, modifying the verb's meaning to emphasize thoroughness. Ludwig AI suggests that "soaked" alone is typically sufficient and more common.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "soaked down" indicates something is thoroughly wet. While grammatically acceptable, as Ludwig AI notes, it's less common and often replaceable with the simpler "soaked". It appears most frequently in news and media contexts and carries a neutral to informal tone. For clearer and more concise writing, consider using "soaked" or alternatives like "thoroughly soaked" or "completely drenched".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thoroughly soaked

Adds emphasis to the degree of wetness.

completely drenched

Implies an even more intense saturation.

saturated

Focuses on the point of maximum absorption.

soaked through

Highlights the penetration of liquid.

wetted thoroughly

A more formal and descriptive alternative.

drenched completely

Similar to completely drenched, but with a slightly different emphasis.

saturated completely

Emphasizes complete saturation.

wet through and through

An idiomatic expression for thorough wetness.

soaked to the bone

Idiomatic, indicating extreme wetness.

waterlogged

Implies being excessively saturated with water.

FAQs

What does "soaked down" mean?

The phrase "soaked down" generally means to be completely or thoroughly wet. However, "soaked" alone is usually sufficient and more common.

Is it correct to say "soaked down"?

While understandable, "soaked down" isn't as common or widely accepted as simply "soaked". Using "soaked" is generally preferred for clarity and conciseness.

What can I say instead of "soaked down"?

You can use alternatives like "thoroughly soaked", "completely drenched", or "saturated" depending on the context.

When should I use "soaked down" versus "soaked"?

In most cases, "soaked" is preferable. "Soaked down" might be used to emphasize the thoroughness of the wetting, but this is often unnecessary and can sound awkward.