settle down

settle down

1. To begin being less excited, nervous, or anxious, or to stop being rowdy or boisterous; to calm down. I was so shaken after the accident that it took me nearly an hour to settle down. Children, settle down and stop making so much noise, or I'll keep each of you here after school! The city is always really hectic just after work, but it usually starts to settle down around 8 PM.
2. To begin or settle into a life of stability, responsibility, and peace (typically by getting married). I never thought that John, who was always such a hell-raiser in college, would settle down with a wife, kids, and a 9-to-5 job. I was plenty wild in my youth. Now I'm ready to settle down.
See also: down, settle
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

settle down

 
1. to calm down. Now, children, it's time to settle down and start class. If you don't settle down, I'll send you all home.
2. to settle into a stable way of life; to get married and settle into a stable way of life. Tom, don't you think it's about time you settled down and stopped all of this running around? Bill and Ann decided to settle down and start a family.
See also: down, settle
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

settle down

1. Begin living a stable, orderly life; also, marry. For example, After traveling all over the world for years, he decided to settle down in his home town , or Her parents wished she would settle down and raise a family. [Early 1600s]
2. Become calm, less nervous, or less restless, as in Come on, children, it's time to settle down. [Mid-1800s]
3. Apply oneself seriously, as in If you don't settle down to your homework, you'll never get it done. [First half of 1800s]
See also: down, settle
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

settle down

v.
1. To begin living a stable and orderly life: She got a nine-to-five job and settled down in the suburbs. I've finally settled down with my sweetheart.
2. To become calm or composed: Hours passed before the children finally settled down. I'll have more free time once things settle down at the office. We made some popcorn and settled down to watch the movie.
See also: down, settle
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • pipe down
  • quiet down
  • keep (one) on tenterhooks
  • keep on tenterhooks
  • roughhouse
  • roughneck
  • quieten down
  • rough and tumble
  • rough-and-tumble
  • tumble
References in periodicals archive
Katherine Jenkins says she hopes to settle down in the future
Singing star 'is still looking for Mr Right'
'Settle Down' is a warm dancehall jam that shows No Doubt are still true to their roots but comfortable in who they have become.
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Could writing that first novel really be a piece of cake?
I want to settle down. I've always wanted kids and I think I'll make a good mother.
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While Patterson has filleted his share of one-of-a-kind riffs in the past, there's something about the Settle Down City concoctions that leaves you nearly breathless in anticipation for more.
Young widows
The Wales international can't wait to move to his new multi-million pound country home next summer to 'settle down' once and for all with partner Stacey and two-year-old daughter Libby.
Giggsy wants bigger home team
When his five years of banishment are up, he is a man of some hard-earned wisdom, with a woman he cares for to help him build a farm and settle down.
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A survey found that more than half of single women have no desire to settle down with a partner and find the hardest thing about being single is people assuming that they don't want to be.
The essentials: single minded
No one really knows how Che would react to having upper-middle class and noticeably whiter students spending their hip years being communists before they settle down to become bankers, economists or lawyers.
In his footsteps
Lynn Harris, this writer focuses on three professionals who feel the need to settle down, but life keeps throwing them curves.
The love scene
Some come to settle down and then bring their families over, but, if they can't do that, they have a hard time.
Korean crisis provokes anxiety, activism
Professor Richard Berthoud, co-author of the report, said: 'You may well say these figures show lads and ladettes are very much an 'early form' and people still settle down remarkably quickly.'
Home truth for the lads
According to recent research, the stereotyped perception that women are keener than men to settle down and have a family is no more.
A DECENT PROPOSAL; Analysis IIT USED to be the woman who wanted a diamond on her wedding finger, a frothy meringue wedding dress and a 12-tiered cake covered in sugared roses. But now men are now more likely than women to want to marry and settle down
A fog of such particles might then migrate and settle down as deposits on crater floors, Robinson speculates.
Asteroid studies reveal new puzzles. (Astronomy)
If you are using moly coated bullets I've seen combinations of barrel and fouling that didn't settle down after 35 shots of the same ammunition.
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