"down" in the Big Book

I hardly dared cross the street, lest I collapse and be run down by an early morning truck, for it was scarcely daylight.

Then a mental fog settled down.

He uses his gifts to build up a bright outlook for his family and himself, and then pulls the structure down on his head by a senseless series of sprees.

If he can afford it, he may have liquor concealed all over his house to be certain no one gets his entire supply away from him to throw down the wastepipe.

But they often suspect they are down for the count.

I sat down at a table and ordered a sandwich and a glass of milk.

Actually we were fooling ourselves, for deep down in every man, woman, and child, is the fundamental idea of God.

We found the Great Reality deep down within us.

The principles we have set down are guides to progress.

So we had to get down to causes and conditions.

We got this all down on paper and looked at it.

If we have been thorough about our personal inventory, we have written down a lot.

Taking this book down from our shelf we turn to the page which contains the twelve steps.

Though there may be justifiable exceptions, and though we wish to lay down no rule of any sort, we have often found this the best course to take.

We ought to sit down with the family and frankly analyze the past as we now see it, being very careful not to criticize them.

No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.

Never talk down to an alcoholic from any moral or spiritual hilltop; simply lay out the kit of spiritual tools for his inspection.

Obviously, no rule can be laid down.

The alarming physical and mental symptoms, the deepening pall of remorse, depression and inferiority that settled down on our loved ones—

You will make mistakes, but if you are in earnest they will not drag you down.

If you cooperate, rather than complain, you will find that his excess enthusiasm will tone down.

Then you and your husband can get right down to fundamentals.

There will be alluring shortcuts and by-paths down which they may wander and lose their way.

But the head of the house has spent years in pulling down the structures of business, romance, friendship, health—these things are now ruined or damaged.

They criticize, pointing out how he is falling down on his spiritual program.

If he says yes, does he really mean it, or down inside does he think he is fooling you, and that after rest and treatment he will be able to get away with a few drinks now and then?

Sometimes we alcoholics have an idea that people are trying to pull us down.

It boils right down to this: No man should be fired just because he is alcoholic.

Even if you feel your organization has no alcoholic problem, it might pay to take another look down the line.

As we became subjects of King Alcohol, shivering denizens of his mad realm, the chilling vapor that is loneliness settled down.

But his venture wound up in a law suit and bogged down completely.

Down the lobby a door opened into an attractive bar.

With a shiver, he turned away and walked down the lobby to the church directory.

Understand he was once a well-known lawyer in town, but just now we’ve got him strapped down tight.”* Here was a prospect all right but, by the description, none too promising.

We’ll be down.”