daʊn tuː ɜrθ
Nature & Weather
neutral
beginner
- Literally:
- Close to the ground
What does "down to earth" mean?
- Practical, realistic, and unpretentious
- A person who is sensible and not arrogant
Examples
- Despite her fame, she's very down to earth.
- I like working with him—he's so down to earth.
- For a billionaire, he's surprisingly down to earth.
Origin
The metaphor contrasts being 'grounded' (realistic) with having one's 'head in the clouds' (impractical). Used since the 19th century to describe practical, humble people.
How to use it
Very positive description of character. Often used to praise celebrities or wealthy people who remain humble.
Similar expressions
practical
humble
unpretentious
grounded
Opposites
pretentious
arrogant
head in the clouds
Related idioms
- out of the blue
Unexpectedly; without warning
- beat around the bush
To avoid talking about the main point of a conversation
- every cloud has a silver lining
There is something positive in every negative situation
- go with the flow
To accept things as they are and adapt accordingly
- once in a blue moon
Very rarely; almost never
- tip of the iceberg
A small visible part of a much larger hidden problem
Use it in a practice answer
Try "down to earth" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.