settle down

settle down idiom
  1. Begin living a stable, orderly life; also, marry. For example, After traveling all over the world for years, he decided to settle down in his home town, or Her parents wished she would settle down and raise a family. [Early 1600s]
  2. Become calm, less nervous, or less restless, as in Come on, children, it's time to settle down. [Mid-1800s]
  3. Apply oneself seriously, as in If you don't settle down to your homework, you'll never get it done. [First half of 1800s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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