do you all believe that the common English idiomatic expression "settle down" means "settle for"? (2024)

FAQs

What does the idiom settle down mean? ›

phrasal verb

: to begin to live a quiet and steady life by getting a regular job, getting married, etc. They swore they would never settle down and get married. 3. : to put oneself into a comfortable position. He settled down for the night.

(FEEL COMFORTABLE)

to become calmer: OK everybody, settle down. I'm glad to hear things are settling down for you guys.

: to come to a decision. used with on or upon. settled on a new plan. c. : to conclude a lawsuit by agreement out of court.

When someone settles down, they start living a quiet life in one place, especially when they get married or buy a house. One day I'll want to settle down and have a family. If a situation or a person that has been going through a lot of problems or changes settles down, they become calm.

settle (someone) down

to become quiet and calm, or to make someone become quiet and calm: Come on all of you, stop talking and settle down please!

Typically, "settle in" means to become accommodated with ones surroundings (usually new surroundings). - "I'm finally feeling comfortable at my new job. I've begun to settle in." "Settle down" tends to be synonymous with "growing up", maturity, stability, marriage childrearing and the trappings that go along with them.

synonyms: calm, calm down, chill out, cool it, cool off, simmer down.

When a man is ready to settle down, you'll notice that you're no longer an option but a priority. Your needs matter more than his wants. Whether he chooses to spend time with you over his friends or makes decisions that factor in your feelings, these are signs he's thinking about a future with you.

phrasal verb. settle down. ​to get into a comfortable position, either sitting or lying.

phrasal verb. If you settle for something, you choose or accept it, especially when it is not what you really want but there is nothing else available.

What is the meaning of settle them down? ›

: to make (someone or something) quiet, calm, or orderly. He managed to settle the dog down long enough to give her the medicine.

“For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119: 89 KJV). The word “settled” means “to bring to rest; to establish or secure permanently.” In our ever-changing world nothing is established or secured permanently. But God's Word is forever settled or established and secured permanently in Heaven.

to give all of your attention to something you are doing: When the work was done, we settled down to a home-cooked meal.

It's perfectly reasonable for someone to be content and independent, to not to want to “settle down”, as you put it. Remember that only you are in control of your life – of course you don't “have” to get married, or have kids, or live in a two-up two-down in Billericay, or whatever it is that makes you shudder.

The earliest known use of the noun settle-down is in the 1850s. OED's earliest evidence for settle-down is from 1855, in the writing of Robert Browning, poet. settle-down is formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: settle v., down adv.

But what is settling in a relationship? Settling in a relationship means being ready to accept less than what you want or deserve. Therefore, settling can be a bad thing. When you decide to settle in a relationship, you choose to accept things that you deeply know don't sit right with you.

There is a big difference between the two, technically. Getting married has a legal meaning and it definitely has significant consequences. Settling down is a non-specific way of indicating you have found a life partner and stopped dating.

synonyms: calm, calm down, chill out, cool it, cool off, simmer down.