From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsettle down phrasal verb1 settle (somebody) downCALMQUIET to become quiet and calm, or to make someone quiet and calm Shh! Settle down, please! Now turn to page 57. When Kyle was a baby, we used to take him for rides in the car to settle him down.2 LIVE SOMEWHEREto start living a quiet and calm life in one place, especially when you get married They’d like to see their daughter settle down, get married, and have kids.3 START DOING somethingto start giving all of your attention to a job or activity to I sorted out my mail, then settled down to some serious work.4 if a situation settles down, it becomes calmer and you are less busy or less worried It’s been really hectic here. When things settle down, I’ll give you a call. → settle→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
settle (somebody) down• Find a doctor, maybe; something to settle him down.• We wound up taking him for long rides in the car to settle him down.• At that time, diesel prices in California spiked briefly, but settled back down by the end of that year.• Try to settle the puppy down here before going to bed.• As she settled back down it continued to cook and burst into flames.• He nods stiffly, then settles his chin down on his chest, scowling.• He settled his weight down on the step beside her and dwelt anxiously on her state.• Before she could say any more, he settled the helmet down over his head and fastened the strap.settle to• I believe we have settled down to accept the situation.• Afterward, you settle down to an evening of state-of-the-art interactive entertainment.• He carried the bag and a map into the front room as Jane settled down to feed Chantal.• After lunch the children settled down to finish their science projects.• And the women settled down to learn in that belief.• Thus the recession is over and we can all settle down to making money again.• Anna would never have settled down to marriage with a gorgio, I realise that now.• He gave up trying and settled down to serious dealing.• By the time I settled down to talk to him, he had organized a scene using four dolls and a house.• She settled down to work on the manuscript after lunch.• It was two o'clock before I could finally settle down to writing the next chapter.things settle down• The days go by, and once again things settle down to the barest of routines. 