we need you to come down as soon as possible.?

[keannu]

Why did they say "come down"? It sounds like you have to come down from upstairs to downstairs, but isn't it related to height but just "come over"?

-Ghost whisperer
[FONT=&#44404]Hospital : This is mercy hospital. [/FONT][FONT=&#44404] Your husband's been in an accident [/FONT][FONT=&#44404] and we need you to come down as soon as possible. [/FONT][FONT=&#44404]Do you know where we're located?

[/FONT]

 

[SirGod]

*Not a teacher

As far as I know, come down is also used when you come from a big city (usually a residence) to a smaller city.

 

[Tdol]

Come over might sound too casual and come here might sound too bossy, so come down fits in the middle- it's polite but pressing.

 

[keannu]

Come over might sound too casual and come here might sound too bossy, so come down fits in the middle- it's polite but pressing.

Does "down" in here have any meaning? and what do you think of SirGod's opinion?

 

[freezeframe]

Does "down" in here have any meaning? and what do you think of SirGod's opinion?

Down can mean going further south, going to a place of lesser importance, or smaller place...

I generally use it more generically though.

 

[5jj]

1. Does "down" in here have any meaning? 2. and what do you think of SirGod's opinion?

1. It has no vital meaning. The utterance could be made simply as [FONT=&#44404] Your husband's been in an accident [/FONT][FONT=&#44404] and we need you to come as soon as possible. [/FONT]

The context would make it clear that the 'coming' meant 'to the place from which I am speaking - Mercy Hospital'.

2. I agree with SirGod. 'Come down' can also be used in that way, but I don't think that's a likely reading in your example. If it had been, the speaker would have said something like, "This is Mercy Hospital in X" (X = the name of the smaller town).

 

[JTRiff]

noteacher

They could as easily have said 'come up' to the hospital. Maybe it's on a hill.
Come down could imply that the hospital is downtown, but it's probably just generic usage in most places.