Question
Updated on
19 Apr 2021
- Portuguese (Brazil)
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English (US)
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Spanish (Spain)
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Portuguese (Portugal)
Question about English (US)
"fall down" is considered a pleonasm and, therefore, colloquial language (when not used in artistic ways)?
"fall down" is considered a pleonasm and, therefore, colloquial language (when not used in artistic ways)?
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19 Apr 2021
Featured answer
- English (US)
I guess?
When referring to a person falling I think "fall down" is fine to use in formal language as well, but in all other instances I would say yes, it's colloquial. But it's the kind of colloquial that's so common that people don't think of it as a pleonasm, just like "stand up" or "off of."
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- English (US)
I guess?
When referring to a person falling I think "fall down" is fine to use in formal language as well, but in all other instances I would say yes, it's colloquial. But it's the kind of colloquial that's so common that people don't think of it as a pleonasm, just like "stand up" or "off of."
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- Portuguese (Brazil)
- English (US)
@emilymasc It depends but usually no.
If you're talking about numbers (prices, temperature, statistics) then you definitely shouldn't use it. Same with weather or if "fall" is used metaphorically.
If you're talking about a building or structure you SHOULD say it, or a person who has fallen to the ground. In those cases "fall down" is synonymous with "crumble" or "collapse."
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- Portuguese (Brazil)
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