spell down

spell down

To be victorious over someone in a spelling competition (known as a "spelling bee" or "spelldown"). A noun or pronoun can be used between "spell" and "down." A first time contestant, she managed to spell down all 29 other competitors to win the city's 22nd annual spelling bee. He spelled Sarah Thompson with his correct spelling of the word "antidisestablishmentarianism."

See also: down, spell

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

spell someone down

to win over someone in a spelling match. Frank spelled everyone else down and won the spelling bee. He spelled down almost everyone.

See also: down, spell

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

spell down

v.

To defeat someone in a spelling bee: My cousin spelled down 15 competitors to reach the finals. I finally spelled last year's champion down.

See also: down, spell

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.