to track down
Idiom Definition:
"to track down"
to find or discover someone or something
Idiom Scenario 1:
A manager is talking to one of his employees ...
Manager: "Have you found that report I asked for?"
Employee: "Not yet. I have asked all my co-workers. I'm going to go to the archives room in a minute."
Manager: "I really need that report."
Employee: "No problem. I will definitely track it down."
Idiom Scenario 2:
Two friends are talking about their friend Bob who is on a trip in Europe ...
Friend 1: "What are we going to do? Bob's grandmother has died and we need to notify him."
Friend 2: "Well, we have his itinerary. I suppose we can make some calls and see if we can find him."
Friend 1: "Yes, we really need to track him down."
Idiom Scenario 3:
(Sometimes it is necessary to refresh your browser to see the news stories)
Newsfeed supplied by: Google News
Alternate News Feed - (opens in a new tab)
Idiom Usage:
This is a separable phrasal verb so ...
Track down the problem!
or
Track the problem down!
Gerund Form of the Idiom:
Tracking down an old friend can be a rewarding experience.
Idiom Conjugations:
to track down
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I track down my motorcycle keys when I need to find them after not using them for a long time. |
I do not track down my motorcycle keys when I need to find them after not using them for a long time. |
Do I track down my motorcycle keys when I need to find them after not using them for a long time? |
| Second-singular (you) | You track down old classmates before high school reunions. |
You do not track down old classmates before high school reunions. |
Do you track down old classmates before high school reunions? |
| Third-singular (he) | He tracks down electrical problems in his car when the fuses keep blowing. |
He does not track down electrical problems in his car when the fuses keep blowing. |
Does he track down electrical problems in his car when the fuses keep blowing? |
| Third-singular (she) | She tracks down the best sales. |
She does not track down the best sales. |
Does she track down the best sales? |
| Third-singular (it) | The school board tracks down the best teachers in the country. |
The school board does not track down the best teachers in the country. |
Does the school board track down the best teachers in the country? |
| First-plural (we) | We track down old game tapes before every big tournament. |
We do not track down old game tapes before every big tournament. |
Do we track down old game tapes before every big tournament? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) track down computer viruses when they become a problem. |
You (all) do not track down computer viruses when they become a problem. |
Do you (all) track down computer viruses when they become a problem? |
| Third-plural (they) | They track down wanted criminals. |
They do not track down wanted criminals. |
Do they track down wanted criminals? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I am tracking down that report right now. |
I am not tracking down that report right now. |
Am I tracking down that report right now? |
| Second-singular (you) | You are tracking down that report right now. |
You are not tracking down that report right now. |
Are you tracking down that report right now? |
| Third-singular (he) | He is tracking down that report right now. |
He is not tracking down that report right now. |
Is he tracking down that report right now? |
| Third-singular (she) | She is tracking down that report right now. |
She is not tracking down that report right now. |
Is she tracking down that report right now? |
| Third-singular (it) | The school board is tracking down the best teachers in the country right now. |
The school board is not tracking down the best teachers in the country right now. |
Is the school board tracking down the best teachers in the country right now? |
| First-plural (we) | We are tracking down that report right now. |
We are not tracking down that report right now. |
Are we tracking down that report right now? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) are tracking down that report right now. |
You (all) are not tracking down that report right now. |
Are you (all) tracking down that report right now? |
| Third-plural (they) | They are tracking down that report right now. |
They are not tracking down that report right now. |
Are they tracking down that report right now? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I have tracked that report down. |
I have not tracked that report down. |
Have I tracked that report down? |
| Second-singular (you) | You have tracked that report down. |
You have not tracked that report down. |
Have you tracked that report down? |
| Third-singular (he) | He has tracked that report down. |
He has not tracked that report down. |
Has he tracked that report down? |
| Third-singular (she) | She has tracked that report down. |
She has not tracked that report down. |
Has she tracked that report down? |
| Third-singular (it) | The school board has tracked down the best teachers in the country. |
The school board has not tracked down the best teachers in he country. |
Has the school board tracked down the best teachers in the country? |
| First-plural (we) | We have tracked that report down. |
We have not tracked that report down. |
Have we tracked that report down? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) have tracked that report down. |
You (all) have not tracked that report down. |
Have you (all) tracked that report down? |
| Third-plural (they) | They have tracked that report down. |
They have not tracked that report down. |
Have they tracked that report down? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I have been tracking that report down all morning. |
I have not been tracking that report down all morning. |
Have I been tracking that report down all morning? |
| Second-singular (you) | You have been tracking that report down all morning. |
You have not been tracking that report down all morning. |
Have you been tracking that report down all morning? |
| Third-singular (he) | He has been tracking that report down all morning. |
He has not been tracking that report down all morning. |
Has he been tracking that report down all morning? |
| Third-singular (she) | She has been tracking that report down all morning. |
She has not been tracking that report down all morning. |
Has she been tracking that report down all morning? |
| Third-singular (it) | The school board has been tracking down the best teachers in the country all summer. |
The school board has not been tracking down the best teachers in the country all summer. |
Has the school board been tracking down the best teachers in the country all summer? |
| First-plural (we) | We have been tracking that report down all morning. |
We have not been tracking that report down all morning. |
Have we been tracking that report down all morning? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) have been tracking that report down all morning. |
You (all) have not been tracking that report down all morning. |
Have you (all) been tracking that report down all morning? |
| Third-plural (they) | They have been tracking that report down all morning. |
They have not been tracking that report down all morning. |
Have they been tracking that report down all morning? |
to track down
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I tracked an old friend down just last week. |
I did not track an old friend down just last week. |
Did I track an old friend down just last week? |
| Second-singular (you) | You tracked an old friend down just last week. |
You did not track an old friend down just last week. |
Did you track an old friend down just last week? |
| Third-singular (he) | He tracked an old friend down just last week. |
He did not track an old friend down just last week. |
Did he track an old friend down just last week? |
| Third-singular (she) | She tracked an old friend down just last week. |
She did not track an old friend down just last week. |
Did she track an old friend down just last week? |
| Third-singular (it) | The police department tracked an old by-law down just last week. |
The police department did not track an old by-law down just last week. |
Did the police department track an old by-law down just last week? |
| First-plural (we) | We tracked an old friend down just last week. |
We did not track an old friend down just last week. |
Did we track an old friend down just last week? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) tracked an old friend down just last week. |
You (all) did not track an old friend down just last week. |
Did you (all) track an old friend down just last week? |
| Third-plural (they) | They tracked an old friend down just last week. |
They did not track an old friend down just last week. |
Did they track an old friend down just last week? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I was tracking down an old friend all last week. |
I was not tracking down an old friend all last week. |
Was I tracking down an old friend all last week? |
| Second-singular (you) | You were tracking down an old friend all last week. |
You were not tracking down an old friend all last week. |
Were you tracking down an old friend all last week? |
| Third-singular (he) | He was tracking down an old friend all last week. |
He was not tracking down an old friend all last week. |
Was he tracking down an old friend all last week? |
| Third-singular (she) | She was tracking down an old friend all last week. |
She was not tracking down an old friend all last week. |
Was she tracking down an old friend all last week? |
| Third-singular (it) | The police department was tracking down an old by-law all last week. |
The police department was not tracking down an old by-law all last week. |
Was the police department tracking down an old by-law all last week? |
| First-plural (we) | We were tracking down an old friend all last week. |
We were not tracking down an old friend all last week. |
Were we tracking down an old friend all last week? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) were tracking down an old friend all last week. |
You (all) were not tracking down an old friend all last week. |
Were you (all) tracking down an old friend all last week? |
| Third-plural (they) | They were tracking down an old friend all last week. |
They were not tracking down an old friend all last week. |
Were they tracking down an old friend all last week? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I had tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look. |
I had not tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look. |
Had I tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look? |
| Second-singular (you) | You had tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look. |
You had not tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look. |
Had you tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look? |
| Third-singular (he) | He had tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look. |
He had not tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look. |
Had he tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look? |
| Third-singular (she) | She had tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look. |
She had not tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look. |
Had she tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look? |
| Third-singular (it) | The police department had tracked down an old by-law before the parade started. |
The police department had not tracked down an old by-law before the parade started. |
Had the police department tracked down an old by-law before the parade started? |
| First-plural (we) | We had tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look. |
We had not tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look. |
Had we tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) had tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look. |
You (all) had not tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look. |
Had you (all) tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look? |
| Third-plural (they) | They had tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look. |
They had not tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look. |
Had they tracked down an old friend by the time there were no more places to look? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I had been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found. |
I had not been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found. |
Had I been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found? |
| Second-singular (you) | You had been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found. |
You had not been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found. |
Had you been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found? |
| Third-singular (he) | He had been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found. |
He had not been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found. |
Had he been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found? |
| Third-singular (she) | She had been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found. |
She had not been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found. |
Had she been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found? |
| Third-singular (it) | The police department had been tracking an old by-law down for a couple of weeks before the protest started. |
The police department had not been tracking an old by-law down for a couple of weeks before the protest started. |
Had the police department been tracking an old by-law down for a couple of weeks before the protest started? |
| First-plural (we) | We had been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found. |
We had not been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found. |
Had we been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) had been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found. |
You (all) had not been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found. |
Had you (all) been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found ? |
| Third-plural (they) | They had been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found. |
They had not been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found. |
Had they been tracking an old friend down for a couple of weeks before he was found? |
to track down
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I will track it down tomorrow. I am going to track it down tomorrow. |
I will not track it down tomorrow. I am not going to track it down tomorrow. |
Will I track it down tomorrow? Am I going to track it down tomorrow? |
| Second-singular (you) | You will track it down tomorrow. You are going to track it down tomorrow. |
You will not track it down tomorrow. You are not going to track it down tomorrow. |
Will you track it down tomorrow? Are you going to track it down tomorrow? |
| Third-singular (he) | He will track it down tomorrow. He is going to track it down tomorrow. |
He will not track it down tomorrow. He is not going to track it down tomorrow. |
Will he track it down tomorrow? Is he going to track it down tomorrow? |
| Third-singular (she) | She will track it down tomorrow. She is going to track it down tomorrow. |
She will not track it down tomorrow. She is not going to track it down tomorrow. |
Will she track it down tomorrow? Is she going to track it down tomorrow? |
| Third-singular (it) | It will track them down tomorrow. It is going to track them down tomorrow. |
It will not track them down tomorrow. It is not going to track them down tomorrow. |
Will it track them down tomorrow? Is it going to track them down tomorrow? |
| First-plural (we) | We will track it down tomorrow. We are going to track it down tomorrow. |
We will not track it down tomorrow. We are not going to track it down tomorrow. |
Will we track it down tomorrow? Are we going to track it down tomorrow? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) will track it down tomorrow. You (all) are going to track it down tomorrow. |
You (all) will not track it down tomorrow. You (all) are not going to track it down tomorrow. |
Will you (all) track it down tomorrow? Are you (all) going to track it down tomorrow? |
| Third-plural (they) | They will track it down tomorrow. They are going to track it down tomorrow. |
They will not track it down tomorrow. They are not going to track it down tomorrow. |
Will they track it down tomorrow? Are they going to track it down tomorrow? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I will be tracking it down for most of the day. I am going to be tracking it down for most of the day. |
I will not be tracking it down for most of the day. I am not going to be tracking it down for most of the day. |
Will I be tracking it down for most of the day? Am I going to be tracking it down for most of the day? |
| Second-singular (you) | You will be tracking it down for most of the day. You are going to be tracking it down for most of the day. |
You will not be tracking it down for most of the day. You are not going to be tracking it down for most of the day. |
Will you be tracking it down for most of the day? Are you going to be tracking it down for most of the day? |
| Third-singular (he) | He will be tracking it down for most of the day. He is going to be tracking it down for most of the day. |
He will not be tracking it down for most of the day. He is not going to be tracking it down for most of the day. |
Will he be tracking it down for most of the day? Is he going to be tracking it down for most of the day? |
| Third-singular (she) | She will be tracking it down for most of the day. She is going to be tracking it down for most of the day. |
She will not be tracking it down for most of the day. She is not going to be tracking it down for most of the day. |
Will she be tracking it down for most of the day? Is she going to be tracking it down for most of the day? |
| Third-singular (it) | It will be tracking them down for most of the day. It is going to be tracking them down for most of the day. |
It will not be tracking them down for most of the day. It is not going to be tracking them down for most of the day. |
Will it be tracking them down for most of the day? Is it going to be tracking them down for most of the day? |
| First-plural (we) | We will be tracking it down for most of the day. We are going to be tracking it down for most of the day. |
We will not be tracking it down for most of the day. We are not going to be tracking it down for most of the day. |
Will we be tracking it down for most of the day? Are we going to be tracking it down for most of the day? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) will be tracking it down for most of the day. You (all) are going to be tracking it down for most of the day. |
You (all) will not be tracking it down for most of the day. You (all) are not going to be tracking it down for most of the day. |
Will you (all) be tracking it down for most of the day? Are you (all) going to be tracking it down for most of the day? |
| Third-plural (they) | They will be tracking it down for most of the day. They are going to be tracking it down for most of the day. |
They will not be tracking it down for most of the day. They are not going to be tracking it down for most of the day. |
Will they be tracking it down for most of the day? Are they going to be tracking it down for most of the day? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I will have tracked it down by the end of the day. I am going to have tracked it down by the end of the day. |
I will not have tracked it down by the end of the day. I am not going to have tracked it down by the end of the day. |
Will I have tracked it down by the end of the day? Am I going to have tracked it down by the end of the day? |
| Second-singular (you) | You will have tracked it down by the end of the day. You are going to have tracked it down by the end of the day. |
You will not have tracked it down by the end of the day. You are not going to have tracked it down by the end of the day. |
Will you have tracked it down by the end of the day? Are you going to have tracked it down by the end of the day? |
| Third-singular (he) | He will have tracked it down by the end of the day. He is going to have tracked it down by the end of the day. |
He will not have tracked it down by the end of the day. He is not going to have tracked it down by the end of the day. |
Will he have tracked it down by the end of the day? Is he going to have tracked it down by the end of the day? |
| Third-singular (she) | She will have tracked it down by the end of the day. She is going to have tracked it down by the end of the day. |
She will not have tracked it down by the end of the day. She is not going to have tracked it down by the end of the day. |
Will she have tracked it down by the end of the day? Is she going to have tracked it down by the end of the day? |
| Third-singular (it) | It will have tracked them down by the end of next week. It is going to have tracked them down by the end of next week. |
It will not have tracked them down by the end of next week. It is not going to have tracked them down by the end of next week. |
Will it have tracked them down by the end of next week? Is it going to have tracked them down by the end of next week? |
| First-plural (we) | We will have tracked it down by the end of the day. We are going to have tracked it down by the end of the day. |
We will not have tracked it down by the end of the day. We are not going to have tracked it down by the end of the day. |
Will we have tracked it down by the end of the day? Are we going to have tracked it down by the end of the day? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) will have tracked it down by the end of the day. You (all) are going to have tracked it down by the end of the day. |
You (all) will not have tracked it down by the end of the day. You (all) are not going to have tracked it down by the end of the day. |
Will you (all) have tracked it down by the end of the day? Are you (all) going to have tracked it down by the end of the day?
|
| Third-plural (they) | They will have tracked it down by the end of the day. They are going to have tracked it down by the end of the day. |
They will not have tracked it down by the end of the day. They are not going to have tracked it down by the end of the day. |
Will they have tracked it down by the end of the day? Are they going to have tracked it down by the end of the day? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I will have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. I am going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. |
I will not have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. I am not going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. |
Will I have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made? Am I going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made? |
| Second-singular (you) | You will have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. You are going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. |
You will not have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. You are not going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. |
Will you have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made? Are you going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made? |
| Third-singular (he) | He will have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. He is going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. |
He will not have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. He is not going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. |
Will he have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made? Is he going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made? |
| Third-singular (she) | She will have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. She is going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. |
She will not have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. She is not going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. |
Will she have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made? Is she going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made? |
| Third-singular (it) | It will have been tracking them down for the better part of a week before any progress is made. It is going to have been tracking them down for the better part of a week before any progress is made. |
It will not have been tracking them down for the better part of a week before any progress is made. It is not going to have been tracking them down for the better part of a week before any progress is made. |
Will it have been tracking them down for the better part of a week before any progress is made? Is it going to have been tracking them down for the better part of a week before any progress is made? |
| First-plural (we) | We will have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. We are going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. |
We will not have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. We are not going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. |
Will we have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made? Are we going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) will have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. You (all) are going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. |
You (all) will not have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. You (all) are not going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. |
Will you (all) have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made? Are you (all) going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made? |
| Third-plural (they) | They will have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. They are going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. |
They will not have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. They are not going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made. |
Will they have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made? Are they going to have been tracking it down for most of the day by the time any progress is made? |
