down-to-earth

down-to-earth

Unpretentious and sensible. I was surprised that she was so sweet and down-to-earth, given her considerable wealth.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

down to earth

Back to reality. For example, It's time the employees were brought down to earth concerning the budget. P.G. Wodehouse had this idiom in Very Good, Jeeves! (1930): "I had for some little time been living . . . in another world. I now came down to earth with a bang." [ Late 1920s]
2. Also, down-to-earth. Realistic or interested in everyday occurrences, as in She is a very down-to-earth person, not at all involved with the glamour of Hollywood. [1930s]
See also: down, earth
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

down to earth

COMMON If you are down to earth, you are very realistic and practical. They think she's too glamorous and won't want to speak to them but actually she's very friendly and very down to earth. He is blunt, outspoken, practical and down to earth. Note: You can use down-to-earth before a noun. Everyone liked her down-to-earth approach to life. They came across as natural, down-to-earth people, just as they do on TV. Compare with have your head in the clouds.
See also: down, earth
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

down-to-earth

Practical, forthright, realistic. It is the opposite of having one’s head in the clouds. The adjectival use of this term dates from the first half of the twentieth century. The OED quotes a book review that appeared in the Canadian Forum in 1932: “This book is full of such ‘down to earth’ observations.”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • on one's
  • on someone's
  • out of one's
  • (I've) got to go
  • save someone's skin
  • (Have you) been OK?
  • other than
  • other than (something)
  • pillow-biter
  • let something drop
References in periodicals archive
Hawn shared a down-to-earth practice that you might want to add to your list of New Year's resolutions: Her family has declared their meal table a "gossip-free zone." No one is allowed to talk about anyone who is not also at the table.
Spirituality cafe
The most down-to-earth mum was GMTV presenter Lorraine Kelly, according to communications agency Publicis.
Posh no inspiration for modern mothers
It is written in a fun, fresh, down-to-earth style.
Until Today: Devotions for Spiritual Growth and Peace of Mind
Her intent is not to ridicule the pretensions of abstract art by pointing to its decorative side, as so many artists have done in recent decades, but to integrate her experience with abstract painting into a more down-to-earth practice.
FRANSJE KILLAARS
With the aid of genetic engineering and blue light, scientists have now bestowed that alien hue upon the blood of a more down-to-earth creature, the zebrafish.
It came from Earth: green-blooded fish
The exotic Nayada is defined by a liquidly classical style, with gracefully flowing arms; her opposite number, the fisherman's village girlfriend (Elizabeth Harano), conveys down-to-earth appeal through sparkling beats and dazzling demi-caractere footwork.
Ballet Iowa
Good luck to Colin and Chris Weir - they seem like four very down-to-earth people.
Big winner is heavy and no bro
The down-to-earth couple are to marry in September in a bargain basement ceremony where guests will include Pete Doherty and Kate Moss.
Shane says: I DON'T..want EUR30k freebies; COUPLE TO WED ON THE CHEAP
Written in down-to-earth terms, and illustrated with a handful of helpful black-and-white sketches and diagrams, Dressing the Man You Love is an absolute "must-have" help manual for male-fashion challenged.
Dressing the Man You Love
Such down-to-earth immediacy makes the Pedagogy Saturday Proceedings a must for every university library, since pedagogy students will have the same questions in mind and will want recourse to the most up-to-date answers.
Pedagogy proceedings: a must read
Topical and scriptural indexes round out this valuable, down-to-earth summary of great use to anyone interested in learning more about Christianity, including those who have been surrounded by it all their lives but who want to come to a better understanding from the simplest concepts and their origins onward.
Introduction to Christianity
She is the real deal, very down-to-earth and personable.
Beautiful music
Other researchers are searching for a more down-to-earth explanation.
Reservoir of water hides high above Earth
Rheims portrays women as goddesses - a rare view among women, who are more likely than men to have a down-to-earth view of their sisters.
Bettina Rheims
An exploration of how progress can come and go in cycles, and the satisfaction of hard work that far outshines the fanciest luxury, The Prairie Tides is down-to-earth wholesome American reading.
The Prairie Tides