Bear down on is an idiom that means to apply pressure or to focus intently on something. The crossword solutions for this term are NEAR (4 letters), PRESS (5 letters), and STRAIN (6 letters). NEAR implies proximity, suggesting that the person or thing bearing down on something is close by. PRESS suggests a physical force, as if the person or thing is pushing down on something. STRAIN implies a mental or emotional effort, as if the person or thing is exerting a great deal of effort to bear down on something.