down-to-earth — practical, realistic, and not pretentious or conceited
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: practical, realistic, and not pretentious or conceited
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌdaʊn tə ˈɜːrθ/
Example Sentences
- The CEO wears jeans to work and eats lunch with janitors - he's surprisingly down-to-earth.
- Her down-to-earth personality makes everyone feel comfortable around her.
- Give me some down-to-earth advice, not philosophical theories about life.
down-to-earth
ADJECTIVE[/ˌdaʊn tə ˈɜːrθ/]
practical, realistic, and not pretentious or conceited
Despite her fame, the actress remains down-to-earth, chatting with fans like old friends.
True worth comes from staying close to earth
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrasal adjective originated from the literal meaning 'come down to earth' and evolved metaphorically in the 1930s to describe someone who is practical, realistic, and unpretentious. The phrase draws from the imagery of descending from abstract or elevated thinking to concrete reality.
Breakdown
down (toward a lower position) + to (indicating direction or relationship) + earth (the ground; literal reality) = coming down from abstraction to practical reality, hence realistic and straightforward.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The CEO wears jeans to work and eats lunch with janitors - he's surprisingly down-to-earth.”
“Her down-to-earth personality makes everyone feel comfortable around her.”
“Give me some down-to-earth advice, not philosophical theories about life.”
“He's so down-to-earth that he fixes his own car instead of buying a new one.”
📚Related Words
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