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Gene93 Posted 10 years ago
Vocabulary

to settle/settle down somewhere

Hello,
How would you differentiate between: "They settled in the Southern part of the country" and "They settled down in the Southern part of the country"?
"Settle down" suggests something more permanent to me, but what's permanent nowadays? It could also convey the idea of "getting married and living a quieter life", but that seems to be a little old-fashioned.

Thank you.
  

Top answer

"Settle down" means to calm down, be tranquil, peaceful. "

— Englishmaven

  • "Settle down" means to calm down, be tranquil, peaceful.
  • "
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9 Answers
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"Settle down" means to calm down, be tranquil, peaceful.

You need "settle" or "settled."
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People who have moved around quite a lot tend to use "settle down". At least in my experience. I recall a senior person saying: "I moved around a lot in my youth. In the late 70's my family and I settled down in ....." I don't remember where, I am sorry.
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Gene93 "I moved around a lot in my youth. In the late 70's my family and I settled down in ....."
There are several contexts for "settle down."
You have a good example. Here's another:
Young men sow their wild oats before they get married and settle down.
And another:
My dog jumped up, barked and ran around like crazy when the doorbell rang.
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What if they decided to settle up in the Northernpart instead?
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AnonymousWhat if they decided to settle up in the Northernpart instead?
Sorry, "settle up" has already been taken. It means to complete a transaction.
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Anonymousto settle up
Good one.

settle down || in the South vs settle || down in the South
settle up || in the North vs settle || up in the North

This is the stuff nervous breakdowns are made of for ESL students.

CJ
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CalifJimThis is the stuff nervous breakdowns are made of for ESL students.
The war between particles and prepositions!
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AlpheccaStarsThe war ...
Indeed. And don't the modern transformationalists, or whatever they're called, claim that both are prepositions? A particle is just a preposition without a complement as I recall the theory on this. (I may have remembered it wrong, but I think that's the essence of it. Are you familiar with this argument?)

CJ
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They might end up settling down up in North Dakota, who knows? Emotion: big smile
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