lowdown

get the lowdown (on someone or something)

To receive or find out specific or comprehensive details about someone, something, or some situation. See if you can get the lowdown on what the boss is planning to do about the company's falling profits. My sister wants to get the lowdown on Geoffrey before she goes on a date with him. There's been a shakeup in the company's upper management, but we won't know how we're affected until we get the lowdown from the boss.

See also: get, lowdown, someone

give (someone) the lowdown (on something)

To provide someone with specific or comprehensive details about someone, something, or some situation. Give me the lowdown on what the boss is planning to do about the company's falling profits. I'm waiting for my brother to give me the lowdown on Geoffrey before I go on a date with him. There's been a shakeup in the company's upper management, but we won't know how we're affected until the boss gives us the lowdown.

See also: give, lowdown

have the lowdown (on someone or something)

To have the truth, facts, or most pertinent information about someone or something. I have the lowdown on a great business opportunity, but I need to borrow a few thousand dollars to get it off the ground. This is Jane—she'll have the lowdown on day-to-day tasks around the office. A: "Whoa, there's been a shakeup in upper management?" B: "That's the rumor, but I don't have the lowdown yet."

See also: have, lowdown, someone

lowdown

1. adjective Dishonest or unfair; vile or despicable; contemptible. Always used before a noun. The guy I've been seeing turned out to be a lowdown, cheating rat! You're nothing but a lowdown coward, you know that? My lowdown boss fired me, even though it was his mistake that lost us the client!

2. noun The truth, facts, or most pertinent information about someone or something. OK, here's the lowdown. I've got a great business opportunity lined up, but I need to borrow a few thousand dollars to get it off the ground. This is Jane—she'll give you the lowdown on day-to-day tasks around the office.

low-down

1. adjective Dishonest or unfair; vile or despicable; contemptible. Always used before a noun. The guy I've been seeing turned out to be a low-down, cheating rat! You're nothing but a low-down coward, you know that? My low-down boss fired me, even though it was his mistake that lost us the client!

2. noun The truth, facts, or most pertinent information about something. OK, here's the low-down: I've got a great business opportunity lined up, but I need to borrow a few thousand dollars to get it off the ground. This is Jane—she'll give you the low-down on day-to-day tasks around the office.

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

*lowdown (on someone or something)

the full story about someone or something. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) I need to get the lowdown on John. Is he still an accountant? Sally wants to get the lowdown on the new pension plan. Please tell her all about it.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

the lowdown on

The whole truth about something, as in We're waiting to hear the lowdown on what happened after we left. This term uses lowdown in the sense of "the basic or fundamental part." [Slang; early 1900s]

See also: lowdown, on

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

give somebody/get the ˈlow-down (on somebody/something)

(informal) give somebody/get the important and true facts about somebody/something: Can you give me the low-down on this deal with the Bank of China?

See also: get, give, somebody

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

lowdown

1. mod. rotten; bad. What a dirty, lowdown thing to do.

2. n. the facts on something; the scuttlebutt about something. What’s the lowdown on that funny statue in the park?

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.