Etymology Journal ยท D
Down to earth
Meaning
- Someone who is practical, realistic, and unpretentious. They are easy to talk to and do not act like they are better than anyone else.
Warm, appreciative
Used in a sentence
- I really like the new manager because she is so down to earth.
- Even though he is a billionaire, he is completely down to earth and loves talking to everyone.
- It is refreshing to meet someone so down to earth in this cutthroat industry.
The backstory
The phrase likely refers to being grounded or connected to reality rather than having one's head in the clouds. Its usage became common in the early 20th century to describe people who are approachable and sensible.
Heard in
Nationwide
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