downhill
downhill — adverb
1. moving from a higher position on a hill toward the bottom, so that the ground gr
moving from a higher position on a hill toward the bottom, so that the ground gradually drops away beneath you.
The children ran downhill as fast as their legs could carry them.
verb of motion + downhill
Obi glanced downhill to see whether anyone was climbing up from the valley.
A loose stone rolled downhill and struck a tree near the stream.
From the cabin the dirt path leads downhill toward the old fishing dock.
- uphill
the opposite direction — toward the top of the hill
文法句型
verb + downhill
downhill + preposition phrase
2. into a condition that is worse than before — used to describe a decline in quali
into a condition that is worse than before — used to describe a decline in quality, health, performance, or overall situation.
After the senior manager left, the company's finances went downhill very quickly.
go downhill — decline in quality
Caleb's health went downhill after he stopped taking his daily walks.
The neighbourhood started to go downhill when several shops closed one after another.
Mira felt that her relationship with her cousin had gone downhill since the argument.
- decline
more formal and broader; can be used without a specific phrase pattern
- deteriorate
more formal; often describes health or conditions getting worse
- worsen
direct and neutral; used for situations, conditions, or relations
文法句型
go downhill
head downhill
slide downhill
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the phrase 'go downhill' or 'head downhill' when used figuratively. The verb 'go' carries the sense of gradual change, not literal movement.
常見錯誤
downhill — noun
1. a type of alpine skiing competition where racers ride down a steep, winding cour
a type of alpine skiing competition where racers ride down a steep, winding course marked by gates, racing against the clock.
Vikram won a gold medal in the downhill at the Winter Games last February.
the downhill — the race event
The downhill is considered the most dangerous alpine skiing event because of the high speeds.
Élise trained for three years before she competed in her first professional downhill.
Fans lined both sides of the slope to watch the women's downhill race.
- downhill race
fully explicit version of the same meaning
- downhill skiing event
broader; describes the category rather than a specific race
文法句型
the downhill
win the downhill
compete in the downhill
用法筆記
When used as a noun for the race, 'downhill' is uncountable in phrases like 'the downhill' (meaning the event) but can be countable with an article when referring to a specific instance of the race.
2. the part of a road, path, or area of ground that slopes downward, so that you go
the part of a road, path, or area of ground that slopes downward, so that you go from a higher point to a lower point when you travel along it.
The truck driver shifted into a lower gear before the steep downhill.
the + adjective + downhill — slope section
Sumin stopped halfway up and looked back at the long downhill behind her.
A yellow warning sign told cyclists there was a dangerous downhill ahead.
The path has a gentle downhill for two kilometres before it flattens out again.
文法句型
a steep downhill
a gentle downhill
the downhill ahead
downhill — adjective
1. having a surface that is lower at one end than the other, so that things moving
having a surface that is lower at one end than the other, so that things moving across it go from a higher position to a lower one.
The downhill path was slippery after three days of heavy rain.
downhill + noun — attributive use
Rodrigo chose a downhill route for his morning run to protect his knees.
The garden had a gentle downhill slope that helped water drain away from the house.
Niran followed a narrow downhill trail from the campsite to the lake below.
- descending
more formal; works in the same positions but sounds more technical
- downward-sloping
more explicit; used when the angle needs emphasis
文法句型
downhill + noun
be downhill