My cousin actually opened a shop down the street

[GoldfishLord]

That employee left, or that competitor opened a shop nearby. My cousin actually opened a shop down the street, with our old manager. My dad’s old apprentice opened a shop right across the street from us, Eye Solutions. It’s like Game of Thrones.

---

Source: When Being the Boss’s Son Isn’t Enough

It seems to me that "down" doesn't mean "along".
Does "down" mean "at a point on"?

 

[SoothingDave]

Why wouldn't "down the street" mean "along the street?"

 

[GoldfishLord]

"Along" has different meanings. How did you intend it to be interpreted?

 

[dunchee]

down | meaning of down in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English | LDOCE

down meaning, definition, what is down: to or towards a lower place or position...: Learn more.

www.ldoceonline.com

4 ALONG at or to a place that is further along something such as a road or path
- A young man came hurrying down the street.

 

[Barque]

It means "along". You could use either 'up' or 'down' depending on your perspective.

 

[Barque]

Does "down" mean "at a point on"?

How's that different from "along"? It seems to me that you haven't understood what "along" means.

 

[GoldfishLord]

How's that different from "along"? It seems to me that you haven't understood what "along" means.

Anyway, does "down the street" mean "at a point somewhere on the street"?

 

[Barque]

It's complicated. It depends on your perspective.

If you look at yourself as being at a "higher" point on a street (say the street connects a very busy main road to a less busy road and you're closer to the very busy road), you might look at a point that's closer to the less busy road as down the street.

And vice versa.

If the street slopes, and you're nearer the higher end, you might look at a point closer to the lower end as down the street. Literally "down".

And sometimes you might use 'up' and 'down' interchangeably.

But to answer your question, "down the street" basically means a different point on the street that you're talking about.

My office is at 100 High Street. His office is down the street from mine.

 

[5jj]

Anyway, does "down the street" mean "at a point somewhere on the street"?

No. It means 'down the street'.

You have produced a reasonable paraphrase.

 

[jutfrank]

It seems to me that "down" doesn't mean "along".

That's a poor question because we don't know what you think 'along' means.

Does "down" mean "at a point on"?

No. It means 'at a distant point relative to where our shop was'.

 

[Barque]

My office is at 100 High Street. His office is down the street from mine.

Just to confuse you more, if the other person's office is at 102, you could say "down" to mean "further down along the (numbering) line".

If his office is at 98, you could say "down the street" to mean "at a number lower than yours".

I don't think there's any definiteness on how to use "up" or "down" here.

 

[SoothingDave]

Yep. Up the street and down the street can mean the same thing.

 

[dunchee]

I don't think there's any definiteness on how to use "up" or "down" here.

There is (at least) one when the geographical "up" and "down" are involved. The street my house is on is on a slope. So houses "higher(in altitude)" than my house are "up" the street. Houses "lower" than mine are "down" the street.

 

[Barque]

There is (at least) one when the geographical "up" and "down" are involved. The street my house is on is on a slope. So houses "higher(in altitude)" than my house are "up" the street. Houses "lower" than mine are "down" the street.

You obviously haven't been reading the posts before yours. I mentioned that in post #8. Fourth paragraph if you need help.

 

[GoldfishLord]

No. It means 'at a distant point relative to where our shop was'.

What's the reason why it doesn't mean "at a close point relative to where our shop was"?

 

[SoothingDave]

Because then it would be "nearby" or "a few doors down" or "just across the street."

 

[jutfrank]

What's the reason why it doesn't mean "at a close point relative to where our shop was"?

I didn't mean 'distant' in the sense of 'far away'. I just meant that there is some distance between the two points.

 

[tedmc]

I think "up or down a street" is used loosely and has nothing to do with the distance from a point of interest, and is not necessarily associated with altitude/elevation or numbering of buildings.