Meaning of walk down

Question

Would you like to tell me the detailed meanings of walk down?The word 'down' makes me feel downward. So when a man walks down the street, he is at the upward point of the street. Is this right?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Swampwhen a man walks down the street, he is at the upward point of the street.

No. One of the curiosities of English is that "walk down the street" and "walk up the street" mean the same thing. I'd guess that "walk down" is said more often than "walk up". Sometimes people are conscious of the slope of the street and take that into account in their choice of words, but that is somewhat rare and not really necessary.

My neighbors the Browns live just up the street from me.
=
My neighbors the Browns live just down the street from me.

go up the road = go down the road

In the case of a ramp such as you may see when you watch people boarding a plane, the situation is different. Here you walk up the ramp to board the plane, but you walk down the ramp when you leave the plane.

Likewise for hills and stairs. Direction matters in these cases.

When you approach something or someone, you walk up to it or them.

to walk up to the front door; to walk up to a stranger at the bus stop

But 'walk down' is usually seen for these:

walk down a pier; walk down a hall/hallway; walk down the aisle (get married); take a walk down memory lane (reminisce)

CJ

Meaning of walk down

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