wash down

wash down (third-person singular simple present washes down, present participle washing down, simple past and past participle washed down)

1. To help to swallow by drinking a liquid, after eating something, or taking a pill.
   • 1907 February 2, The Chronicle, Adelaide, page 50, column 2:

     Well, we had our breakfast of ship's bread and molasses, washed down with cannikins of something liquid - but not lovely.

   I had a nice beef sandwich washed down with a pint of bitter.

   • 1961 March, ""Balmore"", “Driving and firing modern French steam locomotives”, in Trains Illustrated, page 151:

     This time we started with melon, went on to salad and cold chicken, next tried some excellent Camembert and finished up with grapes. To wash this down in the enginemen's shanty, we had a nice white Bordeaux, followed by the remains of the Rosé and finishing up with excellent Beaujolais.

   • 2012 [2002], Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into the Universe‎, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN:

     Having just dined on a plate of fried chicken, you wash it down with a can of beer and contemplate that life doesn't get any better than this. Ever wonder what happens next?

2. To wash something completely from top to bottom.

   You must wash the wall down well before painting.

• downwash