A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

come down to something • go down to something
come down to something —
1
. be reduced to its real meaning:
The whole matter comes down to a power struggle between
the trade union and the directors. 2. be reduced to a humble
position: He finally came down to selling matches on street
corners. 3. get down to smth.; examine smth.: When we come
down to details, the plan seems possible. 4. be reduced to a
lower level: I don’t think we will ever see prices come down to
where they were two or three years ago.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase come down on something—criticize or attack smth.:
The critics came down much too hard on the performance.
go down to something —
1
. = come down to something 4: The
prices should go down to something more reasonable if they
expect people to buy. 2. extend in time or space; reach as far
as: This book is no use to me; it only goes down to the General
Election of 
1
95
1
.
come down to the wire • come under the wire
come down to the wire —(also: go down to the wire) continue
to the very last moment or the very end: The game came down
to the wire with the Eckerd defense stopping the Owls in the
final minutes.
come under the wire —(also: go under the wire) 
1
. be at the
finishing-line of a racecourse: He hardly ever came under the
wire behind the other runners. 2. come at the last possible
moment: The law suits were filed on New Year’s Eve, thus
came under the wire as an event of 
1
94
1
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come down with something • go down with
 something
come down with something —
1
. provide money or informa-
tion: We need not worry. The firm will come down with the
money. 2. be taken ill with a disease: The good Deacon almost
feared he was about to come down with a fever.