download a song

Meaning

This phrase means to copy or transfer an audio file from the internet or a streaming platform onto a local device (like a phone or computer) so it can be played offline.

Examples

• I want to download a song so I can listen to it on the plane.

  I want to download a song so I can listen to it on the plane.

• Is it legal to download a song from this website?

  Is it legal to download a song from this website?

• It only takes a few seconds to download a song with high-speed internet.

  It only takes a few seconds to download a song with high-speed internet.

• She showed me how to download a song to my phone.

  She showed me how to download a song to my phone.

• You can stream music, or you can download a song for offline playback.

  You can stream music, or you can download a song for offline playback.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I will upload a song from Spotify to listen offline.

  ✓ I will download a song from Spotify to listen offline.

  Getting data from the internet to your device is 'download', whereas 'upload' is sending data to the internet.

• ✗ He downloaded a song to the internet.

  ✓ He downloaded a song from the internet.

  Use 'from' to indicate the source of the download, not 'to'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Before the road trip, I should ___ or two for the drive.

  💡 Save music to your phone for offline listening.

  Show answer

  download a song

• How do I ___ from this music store?

  💡 Transfer a music file from the internet to your device.

  Show answer

  download a song