downer

/ˈdaʊnə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [dˈaʊnɚ] /ˈdaʊnər/ (ame, ipa) · [dˈaʊnɚ] /ˈdau̇-nər How to pronounce downer (audio)/ (ame, mw)

downer — noun

1. something that suddenly drags the mood down and leaves people feeling disappoint

1.名詞B2
釋義

something that suddenly drags the mood down and leaves people feeling disappointed or low.

例句

The rain on picnic day was a real downer for the kids.

be a real downer for + [person]

Hearing the concert was canceled put a downer on Omar's birthday weekend.

put a downer on + event

同義詞
  • bummer

    very close in informal speech, often slightly more conversational

  • letdown

    stresses disappointment because reality was worse than expected

  • drag

    often suggests something boring or annoying rather than one bad moment

反義詞
  • highlight

    the most enjoyable or memorable part of an experience

  • treat

    something pleasant that makes the situation better

文法句型

be a real/total downer

put a downer on + event/mood

feel like a downer

用法筆記

Usually refers to a thing that changes the mood of a situation, not to a person's general character. Often appears with 'real' or in the pattern 'put a downer on ...'. Distinguish from sense 2, which names a calming drug rather than a disappointing event.

常見錯誤

❌The bad news was very downer.
✅The bad news was a real downer.
💡this sense is a countable noun, not an adjective.

2. a drug that slows you down, making you feel calm, sleepy, or less excited.

2.名詞C1
釋義

a drug that slows you down, making you feel calm, sleepy, or less excited.

例句

The doctor warned Samir that mixing alcohol with a downer could stop his breathing.

mix alcohol with a downer

After the nightclub raid, police found a downer in Quinn's jacket pocket.

同義詞
  • sedative

    more formal and often used in medical contexts

  • tranquilizer

    common for drugs used to calm anxiety or tension

  • depressant

    technical label for a drug that slows body functions

反義詞
  • stimulant

    a drug that increases alertness or energy

  • upper

    informal opposite used for energizing drugs

文法句型

take a downer

mix alcohol with a downer

a strong/prescription downer

用法筆記

This is an informal label, not a formal medical term, and it often refers to sedatives or other drugs that reduce energy and alertness. It commonly appears in warnings about mixing substances or driving after use.

常見錯誤

❌Coffee is a downer.
✅Coffee is a stimulant.
💡a downer calms or slows the body, while coffee usually does the opposite.