wash down

wash down

1. To flush or rinse someone or something with a liquid, as to clean or sanitize. A noun or pronoun can be used between "wash" and "down." Mom washed down the scrape before putting a bandage on it. The dog is covered in mud, so take the hose and wash him down.
2. To use the force of water or another liquid to move something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "wash" and "down." Don't wash down those bits of food in the sink—they'll clog up the drain.
3. To drink something in order to aid the act of eating or swallowing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "wash" and "down." I could use a cold soda to wash down these fries. If she struggles to swallow that pill, give her some more water to wash it down.
See also: down, wash
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

wash something down something

to get rid of something by flooding it down the sewer, drain, sink, etc. Wash all the soap suds down the drain and clean the sink, please. Please wash all that stuff down the drain.
See also: down, wash

wash something down

 (with something)
1. to clean something by flooding with water, alcohol, etc. The doctor washed the area down and began to stitch up the wound. She washed down the wound with alcohol to clean it thoroughly. Todd washed the driveway down with water.
2. Fig. to use fluid to aid the swallowing of food or medicine. Molly washed the pills down with a gulp of coffee. She washed down the pills with a glass of water.
See also: down, wash
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

wash down

1. Clean by washing from top to bottom, as in He always washes down the walls before painting. [Second half of 1800s]
2. Drink a liquid after eating food or taking medicine, as in He washed down the pills with a glass of water. [c. 1600]
See also: down, wash
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

wash down

v.
1. To cleanse the surface of something using water or other liquid: We washed down the walls. My neighbor washed the car down.
2. To cause something to be carried or drawn down by the action of water or similar liquid: We tried to wash the grease down, but it stuck to the sides. I washed the tar down with the hose.
3. To follow the ingestion of something, such as food, with the ingestion of a liquid: After the party, we washed the cake down with coffee. I washed down the medicine with some juice.
See also: down, wash
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • clean down
  • bear down
  • ask down
  • call down
  • chow down
  • chow something down
  • clunk
  • clunk down
  • brush down
  • button down
References in periodicals archive
A Cost Saving Initiative review throughout Aggregate Industries' operations found the automated truck wash down method in Minnesota ready for wider distribution.
Aggregate Industries comes clean on best truck wash down practices
Without climbing a ladder you can thoroughly wash down the food-grade or sanitary-finish components between batches.
Easy-to-Clean conveyor
TIME to wash down my lunch with the devil's brew - a tasty pint of beer.
6.6.6 DAY OF THE DEVIL: BEER-EL-ZEBUB
Now Stanley insists on a pint of the black stuff to wash down his cat food.
IT'S PURR GENIUS
The truck's galvanized frame, lift linkage, battery well and fork weldment were developed for corrosive wash down applications which typically display accelerated surface rust and corrosion.
Galvanized walkie pallet truck
Officers now flush the toilets more often and wash down the drainage gullies.
Cops kick up a stink on smells
The new Movopart SI and $2 additions use stainless steel of grade BS 3506 A2 or higher to meet the wash down requirements of the dairy and food industries.
Wash down linear actuator for the food industry
The enclosure is designed to aid dirt removal during wash down with slopes greater than 3 from horizontal and radii above 0.25 inches.
AC drive: ideal for sanitary conditions
The Model 900.EY Frozen Egg Yolk Gran-U-Lizer[TM] has rolls that are 8" x 50" long and food grade "wash down" construction.
Particle reduction
Walls in high risk changing areas, leading directly to the food production lines, are washed down three times daily with a daily wash down scheduled for changing rooms in the lower risk packing and boxing up area.
Headland Foods makes Hygiene a top priority at new manufacturing facility in Grimsby
And, being in Tuscany where they produce Hannibal's favourite wine, he should be okay to wash down his next meal "with a nice Chianti".
Just bursting to play Hannibal
Units are designed to be easy to wash down and clean, with smooth construction that helps prevent the entrapment of particles.
Guide rails
This news combined unit features the world's first metal detection system truly impervious to high-pressure wash down. The Goring Kerr DSP-IP sets new global standards by meeting 1P69k--the most demanding wash down rating developed originally for the automotive industry.
New Ramsey checkweigher launched
The washer features oscillating spray arms, wash down duty motors, stainless steel construction, recirculating wash water and fully adjustable cycle times.
Washer/sanitizer