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Perfect Stranger Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary

[idiomatic expression] take off/fly high/go down well?

Dear Users,

Would it be OK to pahraphrase the following sentence with one of these expressions?

Last year I was against putting Fahrenheit 451 in/on the curriculum because our grade 12 students didn't like it much. Besides, we already have two other dystopian novels included.


- didn't take off ...because the book didn't take off among grade 12 students...
- didn't fly (high) ...because the book didn't fly high among grade 12 students...
- didn't go down (well) ...because the book didn't go down well among/with grade 12 students...

I'd be grateful for your comments.

Thanks
  

Top answer

The only one that is not native is 'fly high'. 'Didn't go down well' means that they disagreed with the book. Didn't take off' means that it was not wildly successful.

— Mister Micawber

  • The only one that is not native is 'fly high'.
  • 'Didn't go down well' means that they disagreed with the book.
  • Didn't take off' means that it was not wildly successful.
  • 'Didn't like it much' is your best choice.
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5 Answers
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The only one that is not native is 'fly high'.

'Didn't go down well' means that they disagreed with the book.
Didn't take off' means that it was not wildly successful.

'Didn't like it much' is your best choice.
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Thank you Mister Micawber.

Is it possible that didn't go down well meaning they disagreed with the book is more of an American expression? My British co-worker used it in a sentence and I'm quite positive that what he was trying to convey was something similar to they didn't like it much.
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Perfect StrangerIs it possible that didn't go down well meaning they disagreed with the book is more of an American expression?
You'll have to ask a non-American.
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Perfect StrangerMy British co-worker used it in a sentence and I'm quite positive that what he was trying to convey was something similar to they didn't like it much.
That's how we use it in BrE.
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fivejedjonThat's how we use it in BrE.
Thank you for that comment!
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